Iranian Strikes Cause Damage on U.S. Military Aircraft in Jordan

Multiple American military aircraft were damaged in Iranian strikes overnight from Tuesday into Wednesday at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. Sources familiar with the events informed CBS News.

One A-10 Thunderbolt, an attack aircraft known as the Warthog, suffered a wing loss. About eight F-15s sustained light damage but were reportedly returned to service. The individuals providing this information requested anonymity as they were not authorized to communicate publicly.

No U.S. fatalities have been reported following the strikes on Jordan.

The overnight assault followed U.S. strikes on five Iranian tankers in retaliation for Iran targeting a U.S. Navy warship. In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed attacks on eight tankers and two warships, including the Jordanian base.

U.S. forces in Jordan launched more than 30 Patriot missiles to defend against the Iranian strikes. CBS News has previously mentioned U.S. officials’ concerns over diminishing stockpiles of Patriot missiles and other precision munitions.

Regarding this conflict, President Trump on Wednesday accused Iran of attempting to influence the midterm elections, suggesting that the conflict may cease right after the elections. “I believe the war will end immediately after the election, because they can’t hold out any longer,” Trump stated before traveling to Texas. He claimed that Iran aims to install a “nice, weak group of people” in office to allow them to pursue nuclear capabilities.

Despite these assertions, President Trump expressed no current intentions to negotiate with Iran, especially before the midterms. “We’re not looking for it, to be honest,” Trump remarked, although he acknowledged that the possibility of negotiations exists.

Mark Osborne contributed additional insights to this report.