Jordan downs eight missiles as Iran targets US bases

Jordanian air defenses successfully intercepted and destroyed eight missiles launched by Iran on Monday, as retaliation for an American strike on Iranian forces near the Strait of Hormuz. The Jordan Armed Forces stated that the missiles had entered the kingdom's airspace but were neutralized before posing any threat to civilians or property.

The attack came shortly after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had launched ballistic missiles and drones at two US-linked bases in Jordan, King Hussein Air Base and Al Azraq Air Base. This was a direct US-Iran military confrontation since late July, following a nearly month-long pause in American strikes on Iranian territory.

The exchange marked a renewed escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran over the control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy transit route. Iran denied the US description of the strike as defensive, claiming that the attack caused casualties among its fighters and civilians. However, these claims could not be independently verified.

Jordan's military said its interception operations were conducted under established rules of engagement aimed at protecting national airspace and public safety. The attack was the first known direct confrontation between the two countries since the cease-fire.