U.S. Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, rejected Iranian assertions that its forces destroyed three F-35 fighter jets in Jordan this week.
In a statement on social media, CENTCOM insisted that no U.S. aircraft were destroyed or damaged in the Iranian attacks on the air base used by the Air Force and that all missiles and drones were intercepted.
CENTCOM also rejected claims that the tanker M/T Nora broke through the U.S. naval blockade of Iran’s ports this week.
“The commercial vessel has not broken through America’s steel wall blockade,” the command wrote on X. “More than 20 U.S. warships, hundreds of aircraft, and thousands of service members remain vigilant and continue to fully enforce the blockade.”
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Thursday said its forces obliterated three F-35 fighter jets in Jordan and killed an unspecified number of troops, according to comments carried by state-affiliated media.
The strikes targeted a parking ramp and maintenance hangar used by U.S. forces at Al Azraq Air Base, killing mechanics and American officers, according to the IRGC.
Notably, the CENTCOM statement did not formally reject the IRGC’s claim that it killed U.S. personnel in its strike on the Jordan base. The Washington Times has reached out to CENTCOM for clarification.
The Jordan strikes kicked off a new round of fighting between the U.S. and Iran after days of relative peace. CENTCOM categorized the strikes, which Iran carried out earlier this week, as “surprise attacks” while insisting that all missiles and drones were intercepted.
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