The revelation is significant because early assessments of the Iranian barrage had focused heavily on the fact that no American personnel were killed or wounded and that U.S. operations remained intact.
That assessment remains true when it comes to American personnel.
Officials confirmed that every U.S. service member stationed in Jordan was accounted for following the attack.
“Iran’s response was ineffective in face of integrated air and missile defenses. Iran fired missiles toward Jordan. American forces have 100% accountability at all locations in Jordan,” the U.S. official told Fox News.
The Jordanian military provided additional details about the scale of the attack. According to Jordanian officials, Iranian forces launched 20 ballistic missiles toward the country, but Jordan’s air-defense systems intercepted 18 of them.
The two missiles that were not intercepted ultimately came down in areas without residents, officials said.
No casualties were reported.
Still, the fact that American aircraft sustained damage demonstrates the potential danger posed by even an attack that is overwhelmingly defeated by air-defense systems.
The A-10 Warthog is particularly notable. Built around a heavily armored design, the aircraft was developed to provide close air support for American ground forces and has long been valued for its ability to operate in dangerous combat environments while absorbing significant damage.
The F-15, meanwhile, remains one of the United States’ most important fighter aircraft. The platform has played a major role in American military operations across the Middle East and is capable of carrying out both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
Damage to eight F-15s, even if described as light, represents a tangible cost from an Iranian strike that Tehran apparently intended to use to demonstrate its ability to threaten American forces.
Muwaffaq Salti Air Base has become an increasingly important component of U.S. military operations in the region. Its location and role have also made it a potential target as tensions between Washington, Tehran and their respective allies have continued to escalate.
Iran has repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to target American military positions and allied forces with drones and ballistic missiles. The latest attack comes amid a broader exchange of military action throughout the Middle East.
The confrontation has also expanded beyond traditional military targets.
U.S. forces recently destroyed five Iranian oil tankers following accusations that Iranian forces had repeatedly attempted to attack a U.S. Navy warship with ballistic missiles. American officials said no U.S. sailors were injured in those incidents.
The continued exchanges have created an increasingly dangerous environment for American forces stationed throughout the region.
U.S. aircraft, naval vessels and military installations remain within range of Iranian missiles and drones, forcing American and allied forces to rely heavily on layered air and missile-defense systems.
Those defenses appear to have prevented a far more serious outcome in Jordan.
Intercepting 18 of 20 ballistic missiles is a substantial defensive success. But the two missiles that made it through the defensive screen—or the effects of the barrage itself—were still enough to damage American aircraft.
That distinction matters.
An enemy does not necessarily need to inflict casualties to impose a military cost. Damaging combat aircraft can require inspections, repairs and potentially temporary reductions in operational capacity, depending on the severity of the damage.
For Iran, the attack also offered a glimpse of both the limits and capabilities of its missile arsenal.
Tehran was unable to cause American casualties or cripple operations at the Jordanian base. Yet Iranian missiles still managed to damage U.S. military hardware despite the presence of sophisticated American and Jordanian defenses.
That means the threat cannot simply be dismissed because most incoming weapons are intercepted.
The latest disclosure therefore adds another layer to the increasingly dangerous confrontation between Iran and the United States.
American forces successfully defended themselves and suffered no reported personnel losses. But the damaged A-10 and F-15 aircraft serve as a reminder that even a barrage that is largely neutralized can still reach valuable targets.
As the conflict continues, the ability of U.S. and allied defenses to stop future Iranian missile and drone attacks could become even more critical.
For American commanders operating across the Middle East, the message is clear: Iran’s attacks may fail to achieve their biggest objectives, but Tehran still possesses the ability to put American military assets at risk.
