In a ferocious new phase of the 2026 US-Iran war on day 52, the legendary A-10 Thunderbolt II “Warthog” has officially been unleashed on Iranian targets, bringing its signature devastating close-air support to the battlefield.
Squadrons of the heavily armored, tank-killing aircraft have begun low-alтιтude combat runs, raining down thousands of rounds from their mᴀssive 30mm GAU-8 Avenger cannons while delivering precision Hellfire missiles and bombs. Iranian coastal defenses, missile launch sites, troop concentrations, and armored vehicles near the Strait of Hormuz and southern Iran have come under intense attack. The distinctive “BRRRRT” sound of the Warthog’s cannon has become a terrifying new reality for Iranian ground forces.
U.S. Central Command confirmed the A-10s are operating in close coordination with the mᴀssive American carrier strike group, F-35 stealth fighters, and the recently arrived 3,000 U.S. Marines and V-22 Ospreys. The deployment of these slow but extremely lethal aircraft signals America’s intention to systematically dismantle Iran’s remaining ground-based missile and naval threat capabilities.
This latest escalation comes after Iran’s heavy cluster bomb and missile attacks on Israeli cities, the debut of its Sejjil and “Senjata Pemusnah Murka” weapons, and repeated failed attempts to challenge U.S. naval forces in the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Central Command reports nearly 200 American troops injured across the theater with 13 confirmed deaths. President Donald Trump enthusiastically welcomed the news, stating: “The Warthog is back and it’s hunting. Iran is going to feel real pain now. Nobody does close air support like the A-10!”
Brent crude prices remain elevated above $127 per barrel as the intense fighting continues to threaten global energy supplies.
With the A-10 Warthog now actively tearing into Iranian positions from the air, combined with overwhelming U.S. naval and ground reinforcements already in place, American forces are applying crushing pressure across multiple domains.
Iran’s ground defenses are facing their most dangerous test yet.
