Jordan caught in Iran-US-Israel war crossfire

Almost six months after the United States and Israel initiated strikes against Iran, igniting further conflict in the Middle East, Jordan has endured the ongoing repercussions. Situated near Israel, Jordan is geographically close to Tehran's longtime adversary, leading to the nation being caught in the crossfire. Iranian missile and drone attacks have targeted the desert kingdom, while it also hosts U.S. military personnel.

This has exacerbated existing anti-American sentiments among the community. Elliott Abrams, a senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, acknowledged the tensions, stating that anti-American sentiment within Jordan is not new. Hamadah Faranah, a former Jordanian politician turned commentator and writer, argued that the majority of the population opposed the war, viewing it as the U.S. backing Israel.

However, Faranah expressed deep disappointment in Iran's excessive and sovereignty-infringing response. Iran should have focused on striking and stopping American naval fleets in the Arabian Gulf, Sea, and Indian Ocean, targeting the Israeli "colonial state." Jordan's government has faced criticism for permitting U.S. military presence, but the ruling family's strong ties with Washington and King Abdullah's preference for deeper relations with the U.S. suggest the war is unlikely to alter the country's stance.

Approximately 4,000 U.S. defense personnel are stationed in Jordan, operating from various locations, including the high-profile Muwaffaq Salti Air Base near Azraq. The base has faced Iranian missile attacks, including a surprise assault in July that killed three American soldiers. Abrams noted that the Iran war has tested U.S. military thinking on force deployment in the region, with the prospect of moving personnel or planes to Jordan if violence erupts between the U.S. and Iran.