Iranian strike damages US warplanes in Jordan.

Escalating retaliations intensify conflict across Middle East.

Several American warplanes were damaged in an overnight Iranian missile strike on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, according to reports. The attack marked a significant escalation in the ongoing confrontation between Washington and Tehran.

CBS journalist Jennifer Jacobs reported that one A‑10 Thunderbolt II, commonly known as the Warthog, was hit and lost a wing. In addition, around eight F‑15 fighter jets sustained lighter damage but were quickly returned to service. US forces responded by launching more than 30 Patriot missiles to intercept incoming projectiles.

The strike followed Washington’s sinking of five Iranian tankers earlier in the week, which prompted Tehran to retaliate against American bases and allied positions in the region. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility, stating that the operation targeted the Al‑Azraq base in Jordan and multiple vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. The Guards described the attack as part of a “punitive operation” designed to expand pressure on US forces.

Jordan’s military confirmed its air defence systems intercepted most of the missiles, destroying 18 out of 20 detected projectiles. The remaining two landed in uninhabited areas, minimizing civilian impact. Despite this, the incident underscores the vulnerability of regional bases and the growing intensity of the conflict.

Iran has outlined conditions for ending hostilities, demanding that Washington withdraw Israeli forces from Lebanon, lift the blockade of Yemen, release $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets, and halt interference in its nuclear and missile programs. These demands highlight Tehran’s attempt to use military pressure to extract political concessions.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump suggested the war could conclude immediately after the upcoming midterm elections, claiming Iran “cannot hold out any longer.” However, senior US officials, quoted by the Wall Street Journal, cautioned that the conflict may persist well beyond the election cycle, potentially lasting through the remainder of Trump’s term.

The confrontation has now evolved into a cycle of strikes and counter strikes, with both sides escalating military actions while signalling political conditions for resolution. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route, remains a flashpoint as Iran continues to enforce a blockade, threatening international trade and energy security.

As tensions mount, the latest strike on Jordanian soil underscores the risk of the conflict spreading further across the Middle East, raising concerns about regional stability and the potential for prolonged warfare.