The Dawn of "Kheibar Shekan".. Iran Burns F-35 Hangars in Jordan and Pounds the Fifth Fleet in the Fiercest Clash with Washington

Talal Nahle
Wednesday, June 10, 2026 (Day 103 of the War) Lire en français

Strategic context: The Fall of Red Lines and the Explosion of Geography 

The most violent wave of direct combat operations between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran since the collapse of the ceasefire on April 8 has ended. What began as an American pretext to retaliate for the downing of an Apache helicopter turned into a grave strategic error for the Pentagon; CENTCOM launched a large-scale attack disproportionate to the magnitude of the incident. Consequently, the Iranian response came in an unprecedented manner, transcending the traditional geography of the Gulf to reach the heart of strategic US bases in Jordan, having publicly threatened them during the previous round of Iranian retaliation against Israel's bombing of the Southern Suburbs [Dahiyeh]. 

At dawn today, Tehran established a new regional deterrence equation: any American attempt to forcefully break the blockade on Hormuz will mean incinerating the crown jewel of US airpower in the region.

I. The American Aggression: A Failed Attempt at "Coastal Blindness" 

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the completion of its strikes, which were described as targeting "Iranian air defense sites, control stations, and surveillance radars near the Strait of Hormuz" using precision munitions. 

* Operational Analysis: The expanded scope of the US raids proves that the objective was not merely a retaliatory gesture for the downed Apache helicopter, but rather a military attempt to destroy the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) "radar eyes," aiming to break the naval blockade and forcefully secure the passage of commercial and military vessels. 

II. The Shocking Iranian Response: 26 Burning Targets from Hormuz to Azraq 

Tehran retaliated with a coordinated operational decision involving the IRGC Navy, the IRGC Aerospace Force, and the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, achieving an exceptional bank of targets that overthrew the prestige of American deterrence:

 1. The Strategic "Kheibar Shekan" Strike in Jordan (The Turning Point): In what represents the most dangerous geopolitical development, Iran expanded the scope of its retaliation to include Jordan. The IRGC utilized "Kheibar Shekan" ballistic missiles (solid-fueled and highly precise) to pound the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Azraq. 

 > US Losses: Four highly sensitive targets were destroyed, most notably the hangars housing F-35 stealth fighter jets, in addition to obliterating the US military's Command and Control (C2) center at the base. This strike shattered the myth of American air superiority and proved Iran's capability to destroy state-of-the-art US fighters while they are grounded.    

2. Pounding the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain: US bases in Bahrain were subjected to a massive missile attack, triggering sirens and resulting in the sound of massive explosions. A direct missile hit was recorded at the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet, where plumes of smoke were seen rising from the nerve center of the US Navy in the Gulf. 

3. Drone Attack on Kuwait: Swarms of IRGC drones targeted the Ali Al Salem base and the Jahra region in Kuwait, leading to successive explosions and prompting Kuwaiti air defense systems to attempt to intercept the aerial targets. 

4. Neutralizing Reconnaissance Eyes: Concurrently with the missile attack, Iranian air defenses announced the downing of an advanced, strategic US MQ-9 Reaper drone while it was attempting to penetrate the airspace of the Iranian city of Jam. 

* Total Toll of the Iranian Retaliation: Striking 21 targets across US naval and air bases in the Gulf, destroying 4 strategic targets in Jordan, and downing an MQ-9 drone.

III. Political Messages: A Warning to the Ring Countries and Activating the Hotline

The military response was accompanied by a scathing Iranian diplomatic offensive, holding the countries of the region to their responsibilities: * Warning Host Nations: The Iranian Foreign Ministry and the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters issued a stern statement reminding regional states of their responsibility to prevent their territories from being used by the US military. The message is clear: the geography from which attacks are launched will immediately turn into a legitimate bank of targets for the Aerospace Force. 

* Diplomacy Under Fire: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rushed to make urgent phone calls with his Saudi and Turkish counterparts. The objective of these calls is to brief regional powers on the developments and to affirm that Iran does not seek to strike Arab countries, but exclusively targets US bases that infringe upon its sovereignty. 

Conclusion and Strategic Outlook 

This violent combat round has ended, but it has established a new reality. The United States, which attempted to restore its prestige following the Apache incident, found itself facing a scene where its Fifth Fleet headquarters was burning, and the hangars of its most expensive aircraft globally (F-35) were destroyed in Jordan. The Expected Trajectory: We are currently in a state of "damage assessment" for both sides. If the Trump administration swallows this slap and settles for the CENTCOM statement announcing the "completion of strikes," we might witness a cautious calm and a US pullback to focus on negotiations. However, should the Pentagon decide to retaliate to repair its image in front of its allies, the statement from the IRGC and the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters was decisive: *"If the aggression is repeated, fiercer and wider-scale attacks will be launched."* 

Source: https://x.com/Intel_Sky/status/2064621381828899056