The legendary A-10 Thunderbolt II is proving exactly why the U.S. Air Force can’t seem to retire it. New, harrowing footage from March 2026 shows the “Warthog” operating with total impunity over the Nineveh Plains, treating pro-Iranian militia strongholds like a private training range.

The primary reason for this lopsided air war? A total lack of anti-aircraft defenses among local formations. Without MANPADS or even basic AA guns, the militias are defenseless against the GAU-8 Avenger 30mm cannon.
Three Perspectives of the “BRRRT”
The following recorded videos offer a 360-degree look at the devastation:
The Cockpit View: A high-definition close-up of the A-10’s nose as the GAU-8 cycles, unleashing a torrent of depleted uranium rounds. The iconic “fart of death” sound resonates as the airframe vibrates from the massive recoil
Close-up footage of a US Air Force A-10 attack aircraft firing a 30 mm GAU-8 cannon at the positions of the 30th PMF Brigade and the Ninewa Operations Command militia in Iraq. #IranWar pic.twitter.com/VCdGv3OQkM
— The Philly PI (@PhillyPILive) March 26, 2026
The 30th PMF Brigade View: Ground-level footage from a militia member within the 30th Brigade (Shabak fighters). The video captures the terrifying sound of the rounds impacting before the engine noise even arrives, followed by the immediate collapse of a communications building.
Ground view: A-10 GAU-8 shreds 30th PMF positions in Iraq. #IranWar https://t.co/n0QbfRLd0j pic.twitter.com/K4vDdza2ct
— The Philly PI (@PhillyPILive) March 26, 2026
The Ninewa Operations Command View: A wider perspective showing the aftermath of a “quick sweep” by the Warthog. Smoke billows from destroyed technicals and fortified positions as the A-10 lingers at low altitude, loitering for a second pass.
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Ninewa aftermath: A-10 loiters over smoking militia technicals and fortified positions. No AA in sight. #IranWar pic.twitter.com/4jRxjOdoEz
— The Philly PI (@PhillyPILive) March 26, 2026
Military analysts noted that the 30th PMF Brigade headquarters near Bartella has been targeted multiple times this month. As Operation Epic Fury intensifies, the A-10 remains the ultimate psychological weapon, turning the Iraqi desert into a graveyard for those caught in its sights.