AMMAN, Jordan — Multiple American military aircraft were damaged in Iranian strikes on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan overnight Tuesday into Wednesday local time, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter who spoke to CBS News.
Roughly eight F-15s sustained light damage and were reportedly returned to service, according to the sources, who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
One A-10 Thunderbolt II, known as the “Warthog,” was struck and was left missing a wing, the sources said.
No U.S. deaths have been reported in the strikes on Jordan.
More Than 30 Patriot Interceptors Used
U.S. forces in Jordan launched more than 30 Patriot missile interceptors while defending against the Iranian strikes, CBS News reported.
Jordan's Armed Forces said that its air defenses engaged 20 ballistic missiles fired toward Jordanian territory. Jordan said 18 were intercepted and destroyed, while two fell in unpopulated areas.
The reported aircraft damage provides new details about the effects of the attack, although the exact missiles responsible for the aircraft damage have not been publicly identified.
Earlier Reporting
The CBS report also provides further confirmation of the earlier reporting published by us following the September 8-9 attack.
In our September 9 report, we reported that some Iranian ballistic missiles appeared to have reached the vicinity of Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, based on videos showing explosions and apparent impacts around the installation. At that time, the exact number of successful impacts and the extent of damage remained unclear.
Our earlier report on the Muwaffaq Salti attack
The new CBS report now provides specific details of the aircraft damage, including the A-10 with a missing wing and approximately eight F-15s that sustained light damage.
Iran Claims Base Was Hit
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that its missiles successfully struck Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, saying the attack targeted areas associated with the maintenance, preparation and deployment of fighter aircraft, including F-15s.
Jordan, however, said that 18 of the 20 ballistic missiles were intercepted and that the remaining two landed in unpopulated areas.
The reported aircraft damage confirms that U.S. aircraft were affected, but the full extent of damage to the base and the precise number of missiles that reached the installation remain unclear.
Attack Followed U.S. Strikes on Iranian Tankers
The Iranian attack followed a U.S. operation on September 8 targeting five Iranian tankers.
The U.S. said the operation was carried out in retaliation for Iran targeting a U.S. Navy warship. In response, Iran's IRGC claimed that it launched attacks against eight tankers and two warships, as well as the U.S.-used air base in Jordan.
As of September 10, the reported aircraft damage has not been publicly confirmed by U.S. Central Command. The CBS report currently provides the specific details that an A-10 was left missing a wing and approximately eight F-15s sustained light damage and were returned to service.
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