Iranian forces launched a barrage of missile strikes on a US military base in Jordan, damaging around nine American fighter jets just hours after Donald Trump warned Tehran not to "get cute" over activity at a suspected nuclear site. The attack marks a significant escalation in the ongoing confrontation between Washington and Tehran, raising concerns about the toll on US military hardware and dwindling missile-defence stockpiles as the conflict shows no sign of resolution.

The strikes on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base saw an A-10 Thunderbolt II, worth roughly $20 million, lose a wing, while eight F-15 jets, each valued at over $90 million, sustained lighter damage but remain operational; no casualties were reported. US forces fired more than 30 Patriot missiles in defence, prompting fresh concern among officials over depleting munitions supplies. The attack followed Trump's remarks about Iran's Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility during a Republican convention speech, and comes amid wider tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, with Brent crude prices climbing to $101 a barrel. A June ceasefire between the two nations collapsed weeks later, and negotiations remain stalled, with advisers reportedly warning Trump the conflict could persist until 2029.