Gulf Region — The Pentagon has rushed squadrons of A‑10 “Warthog” ground‑attack jets into the Middle East after Iranian missiles and drones struck multiple U.S. bases, in a move analysts say signals Washington is preparing for brutal, low‑altitude combat rather than a quick, surgical exchange.

Over a forward airbase in the desert, the distinctive twin‑engine Warthogs thundered in at dusk, their wings bristling with AGM‑65 Maverick missiles, laser‑guided bombs and racks of 30mm cannon rounds. Crews worked under floodlights to rearm and refuel as fresh damage reports poured in from hit installations in Iraq, Syria and along the Gulf, where barracks, depots and hangars were left smoking after Iran’s latest “revenge volleys.”

A senior U.S. commander called the deployment “a clear warning that any further attacks on our forces will be met at eye level, from treetop height,” hinting that A‑10s will be used to shred launch crews, militia convoys and drone teams hiding in rough terrain. Iranian state media dismissed the move as “old metal for an old empire,” but footage of Warthogs taxiing with live ordnance is already circulating across the region — a psychological message Tehran cannot ignore.

With missiles flying, A‑10s now on the front line and both sides vowing not to back down, the Middle East is bracing for a dangerous new phase of the war — one fought not just with long‑range strikes, but with cannon fire and close‑in destruction visible from the ground.