Several U.S. military aircraft sustained damage during Iranian missile strikes on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan late Tuesday into Wednesday, according to sources familiar with the incident who spoke to CBS News under conditions of anonymity.
Among the affected aircraft was an A-10 Thunderbolt, commonly referred to as the Warthog, which reportedly lost a wing due to the attack. Additionally, around eight F-15 fighter jets experienced minor damage but have since been returned to operational status, as per the individuals informed on the situation.
Fortunately, there have been no reported casualties among U.S. personnel as a result of these strikes in Jordan.
This incident follows a U.S. operation on Tuesday that targeted five Iranian tankers in response to Iran’s aggression toward a U.S. Navy warship. In retaliation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran claimed responsibility for assaults on eight tankers and two naval vessels, including the military base in Jordan.
In defense, U.S. forces at the Jordan base fired over 30 Patriot missiles to counter the Iranian attacks.
Reports from CBS News indicate that U.S. officials are expressing concern regarding the dwindling inventory of Patriot missiles and other precision munitions.
On Wednesday, President Trump commented on the situation, suggesting that Iran is eager to influence the upcoming midterm elections, speculating that hostilities might cease immediately after the elections. “I think the war will end immediately after the election, because they can’t hold out any longer,” he stated to reporters prior to his departure for Texas. “They’re desperate to try and affect the election so we can get a nice, weak group of people in there and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon.”
Despite these assertions, President Trump indicated that there are no plans for negotiations with Iran in the near future, especially before the midterms. “We’re not looking for it, to be honest,” he remarked. “Originally I wanted to make a deal. We’re so far down the line, they have very little country left right now, so we’re not looking for it. Yes, a negotiation could possibly happen but it’s not something we’re looking at.”
Mark Osborne contributed to this report.
