Jordan intercepted seven missiles and six drones launched from Iran, authorities confirmed Friday, as Tehran escalated its attacks against US military assets and partners throughout the Middle East.
A military source from the General Command of the Jordan Armed Forces informed the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that aircraft were deployed to intercept and neutralize the aerial threats, reporting no casualties or damage resulting from the operation. Earlier the same day, Iran had announced drone strikes targeting US personnel and facilities in Jordan and Bahrain, with Iranian state media specifying the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, also known as Al-Azraq Air Base, in eastern Jordan as a target. Reports indicated that hangars, maintenance facilities, and barracks were struck.
Jordan, a key ally of the United States in the Middle East, hosts approximately 4,000 US troops across several military installations, including Al-Azraq. Despite its close relationship with Washington, Amman has strived to remain neutral and avoid direct involvement in the escalating conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran. The kingdom maintains diplomatic ties with Tehran and has consistently stated that its territory will not be used as a platform for attacks against neighboring nations.
Nevertheless, Jordan has had to intercept Iranian missiles and drones crossing its airspace on multiple occasions since the current hostilities intensified. The kingdom finds itself increasingly caught in the middle of regional tensions.
In parallel, Iran's military also claimed to have targeted fuel tanks, warehouses, silos, and barracks at Bahrain’s Isa Air Base using Arash kamikaze drones. The Bahrain Defence Force confirmed it had confronted and destroyed a number of Iranian air attacks. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) further stated it had targeted Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait with drones, a claim that Kuwaiti forces stated they were confronting. The IRGC subsequently issued a warning to civilians in the Middle East to avoid US military bases, suggesting the possibility of further imminent attacks.
These Iranian actions followed a night of US strikes, which the US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated were aimed at Iranian military command centers, drone storage sites, communication networks, and coastal surveillance facilities. Iranian state media reported casualties in Khuzestan province as a result of a US strike, with Iran's Health Ministry indicating significant fatalities and injuries since late June.
