Iran has claimed it destroyed three US F-35 fighter jets and severely damaged three others at Jordan's Al-Azraq Air Base on Thursday in retaliation to American attacks on Qeshm Island. According to a statement by Iran International, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched several ballistic missiles at the deployment ramp and maintenance facilities housing US F-35 fighter aircraft at Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan. The IRGC claimed the strike 'completely destroyed three F-35 aircraft and caused heavy damage to three others,' adding that several US officers and technical and maintenance personnel were also killed in the attack. The attack targeted an aircraft parking area and a maintenance hangar at the base in response to a US strike on Iran's Qeshm Island.
The reported destruction of three F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jets alone would represent equipment worth more than $300 million, excluding the cost of infrastructure and any additional damage. An F-35A Lightning II costs well over $100 million depending on configuration and procurement terms, making this potential loss one of the most significant for America's most advanced combat aircraft. However, the United States has not confirmed the claim, and there has been no independent verification of the reported destruction or damage to the aircraft.
The US military has strongly denied Iranian claims of aircraft damage, with US Central Command (CENTCOM) stating that 'No US aircraft were destroyed or damaged in recent attempted Iranian attacks. All missiles and drones were intercepted or failed to reach targeted areas,' according to a CENTCOM statement. The US military did not confirm if any US service members were slain in the attack. This denial comes after earlier reports of US military strikes against IRGC targets inside Iran, with CENTCOM announcing it had conducted strikes at approximately 10 pm ET on July 29 in response to what it described as attempted Iranian ballistic missile attacks against US forces.
The conflict has claimed lives on both sides, with Iranian state news agency Tasnim reporting that three IRGC soldiers were killed in a US missile attack in the Zanjan province branch. The IRGC soldiers were identified as Mahmoud Mollajabari, Mohammadreza Cheraghi and Jamal Amiri. The US and Iran have been trading strikes within the past week after days of relative calm in the Middle East, with US President Donald Trump warning that the US will strike Iran 'very hard' in retaliation for Iranian strikes on US military assets. Trump asserted that 'they know it's coming' and that the US will 'beat the fing s' out of Iran, while Iranian officials have warned that countries assisting the United States would face 'a harsh response' unless they changed their policies.
Jordanian authorities confirmed that they successfully intercepted and downed five Iranian missiles launched toward the kingdom on Thursday, marking the fourth consecutive day of such incidents. According to Anadolu, Jordan said it downed five missiles after intercepting one drone on Tuesday and two drones on Monday. This latest interception occurred hours after a missile struck a house on Qeshm Island, injuring two people during a wave of US attacks across southern Iran, according to Mehr News Agency. The repeated missile launches from Iran have escalated tensions in the region and highlighted the ongoing military confrontation between the US and Iranian forces.
