Satellite Imagery Reveals Damage at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Including Direct Hits on Two Aircraft Shelters, After Iranian Missile Strike

AMMAN, Jordan — Newly released satellite imagery and official accounts show damage at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, also known as Al-Azraq Air Base, following an Iranian ballistic missile attack during the night of September 8-9.

The base hosts U.S. military aircraft and personnel and serves as a U.S. military operating hub in the region. The attack followed U.S. strikes on five Iranian crude oil tankers on September 8. Those strikes came after Iranian forces targeted a U.S. Navy warship with ballistic missiles in preceding days. The warship successfully evaded the attacks and no casualties were reported.

Satellite imagery shows multiple impact areas

Open-source analysis of Sentinel-2 L2A imagery dated September 10 shows several apparent impact points inside the base. The main reported strike area is around 31.8314, 36.7914, near support and aircraft-shelter infrastructure.

The imagery indicates damage to a taxiway and two aircraft shelters, while several clamshell-style aircraft hangars appear to have been destroyed or damaged. Separate analysis of imagery from September 8 and 10 also identified an apparent hit on a fighter hangar, impact marks along a taxiway or runway area and changes around two unmanned aerial vehicle hangars.

The publicly available imagery does not show clear widespread structural damage across the main aircraft apron where some U.S. aircraft are normally positioned.

Nine U.S. aircraft affected

U.S. sources confirmed that multiple American aircraft were damaged. One A-10 Thunderbolt II was struck and reportedly lost a wing, while approximately eight F-15/F-15E Strike Eagle fighters suffered light damage.

The F-15 aircraft were inspected and underwent minor repairs before being returned to service. U.S. officials said no American personnel were killed and described the overall equipment damage as limited or minimal.

Videos circulating online also appear to show damaged UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters being transported on flatbed trucks. However, the U.S. military has not confirmed the cause or location of that helicopter damage.

Jordan reports 18 missile interceptions

Jordan’s armed forces said approximately 20 Iranian ballistic missiles were fired toward Jordanian territory. Jordan reported that its air-defense systems intercepted and destroyed 18 missiles, while the remaining two fell in unpopulated areas. No casualties were reported by Jordanian authorities.

U.S. forces at the base fired more than 30 Patriot interceptor missiles during the defense, according to U.S. officials. Some reports have put the number of U.S. interceptors higher, at around 60.

Iran claims responsibility

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the attack. It said its Aerospace Force used solid- and liquid-fuel ballistic missiles against the base and targeted maintenance, preparation and deployment sites associated with F-35, F-16 and F-15 aircraft, as well as aircraft shelters.

Iranian statements also referred to the use of cluster munitions in some accounts. Open-source analysts have examined the satellite imagery for evidence of the reported strike effects, although the imagery alone does not establish the exact warhead used in each impact.

The base remains operational while damage to affected taxiway, hangar and shelter areas is assessed and repaired. Further high-resolution commercial satellite imagery is being reviewed to provide a more detailed battle-damage assessment.

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