Sep 10, 2026 · 14 min
Iranian missiles damage U.S. aircraft in Jordan
PDB Afternoon Bulletin | September 10th, 2026: Iran’s Missiles Hit U.S. Fighter Jets
The reported strike tests assumptions about missile defense while widening the operational and economic risks surrounding conflicts near the Red Sea.
- 1Iran’s ballistic missile attack damaged or struck American combat aircraft at a U.S.-used base in Jordan.
- 2The episode examines what the incident reveals about missile-defense effectiveness and the cost of countering Tehran’s attacks.
- 3Houthi advances along Yemen’s Red Sea coast could increase shipping threats near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
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The episode’s central moment is the report that Iranian missiles damaged or struck American combat aircraft at a U.S.-used base in Jordan.
The brief
Michael Baker opens with reporting that Iran’s ballistic missile attack on a U.S.-used base in Jordan damaged or struck several American combat aircraft.
The incident raises a harder question than whether the aircraft were hit: how effective is missile defense when protecting forces from Tehran’s attacks?
The aircraft involved include the A-10 Warthog and F-15 Strike Eagle, underscoring the operational cost of absorbing damage at a regional air base.
The bulletin then turns to Yemen, where Houthi advances along the Red Sea coast could put more pressure on shipping near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Taken together, the developments point to a widening security problem: defending American forces and keeping a vital maritime passage open may demand escalating resources.