[BUG] The arrow -> in trailing return type syntax breaks C++ syntax highlighting

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

C++ syntax highlighting does not work for any block of code that contains a trailing return type due to the arrow: auto bar() -> int.

An arrow made with the same characters has other uses (e.g. as a member access operator), but the other uses do not break syntax highlighting.

What Should Happen?

C++ syntax highlighting should work when a trailing return type arrow appears in a code block.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

Instruct Claude to output these lines as C++ code.

// breaks
auto f() -> int { return 0; }
auto f(int x) -> const char* { return "hi"; }
auto f(int x, double y) -> std::vector<int> { return {}; }

// fine
auto square = [](int x) -> int { return x * x; };
int g() { return 0; }
int* ptr = nullptr;
int val = ptr->x;

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.101

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Ubuntu/Debian Linux

Terminal/Shell

VS Code integrated terminal

Additional Information

_No response_