Middle East: American air base hit by Iranian missiles in Jordan

The conflict in the Middle East continues to rage. The Jordanian army announced in a press release that it had intercepted eighteen of the twenty Iranian ballistic missiles fired on the evening of September 9. The remaining two escaped the anti-aircraft defense and struck the American air base at Muwaffaq Salti, located in eastern Jordan.

According to sources close to the conflict who spoke to CBS News, these bombings damaged nine American planes. Eight F-15s suffered minor damage before being quickly returned to service. An A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft was more harshly targeted, losing a wing.

30 Patriot interceptors fired

To counter this attack, American forces deployed a real air shield, with more than thirty Patriot interceptors engaged according to CBS News. An expensive ammunition, up to 5 million dollars per unit. The US military said no soldiers were killed in the attack. Videos published on the night of September 9 to 10 on social networks effectively confirm the firing of a Patriot salvo and the presence of at least one Iranian ballistic missile which escaped them.

An episode which revives concern about the state of arms stocks on the American side. An analysis by the Center for International Strategic Studies on air defense systems, cited by ABC News, revealed that two thirds of Patriot interceptors had already been used since the start of the conflict.