Iran strikes US military targets in Jordan after American attack on Larak Island in latest in latest flare-up

On Monday, Iran struck US military targets in Jordan, retaliating for American strikes on Iranian territory in the Strait of Hormuz. This marks a new escalation in the six-month conflict. The Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) reported that they targeted two US military air bases in Jordan with ballistic missiles, causing significant damage.

Jordan's army claimed to have intercepted eight missiles, though they did not specify their origin. The strikes followed the US announcement that it had attacked Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to prevent Iran from launching more sea mines into the strategic waterway. US Central Command (Centcom) stated that their actions were limited and precise, targeting Iranian mine-laying forces posing an immediate threat to shipping routes.

Iran's response came shortly after the six-month mark of the US-Iran war, which had been subsiding. In recent weeks, US President Donald Trump's administration has focused on economic warfare over military strikes. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that new secondary sanctions would be imposed weekly on Iran, targeting its banks first.

The US has since implemented penalties on UAE branches of Egypt’s Banque Misr due to alleged financial links with Iran, with more sanctions likely in the coming weeks. Diplomatic efforts to end the war have been ongoing, with recent agreements and a memorandum of understanding for a final peace deal, but no final accord has been reached.

The April ceasefire was followed by sporadic attacks, mainly around the Strait of Hormuz, diminishing the chances of a lasting peace agreement. The last US strike on Iran prior to the latest incident occurred on July 29, in response to an attempted surprise attack on US forces. Earlier in July, Centcom attacked Iran for 13 consecutive nights.

Iran has retaliated by striking US facilities and allies in the Gulf region, including Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, among others. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused global consequences, including price hikes in oil and shortages of fertilizer and energy. Oil prices surged after news of the US strikes on Iran, with North Sea Brent crude crossing the $90 threshold and West Texas Intermediate reaching over $85.

The war's unpopularity among the US public, especially with upcoming midterm elections, has raised concerns among lawmakers. Senator Jack Reed, a top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticized Trump for the war, stating that six months later, no objectives had been achieved, and the US position in the Middle East and the world had weakened significantly.