Tehran Targets U.S. Base In Jordan In Retaliation for U.S. Destroying Iranian Oil Tankers
A spokesperson for the Jordanian Armed Forces said a barrage of “20 ballistic missiles” had been launched towards its territory as hostilities flare in the region.
On September 9, 2026, Iran launched a series of missiles at a U.S. base in Jordan as retaliation for the U.S. destroying five of Iran's oil tankers. According to Iranian state media, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have targeted two U.S. vessels and eight oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The Jordanian Armed Forces' spokesperson reported that 18 of the 20 launched missiles were intercepted and destroyed by the country's air defense system, while the remaining two fell in non-populated areas.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) denied the IRGC's claims, stating that no U.S. warship had been struck, and that all attempted attacks by the IRGC failed. The escalation comes after U.S. forces destroyed the five tankers in response to Iran's previous attacks on U.S. Navy ships. The ongoing hostilities and attacks on shipping mark a serious escalation in the reignited conflict between the U.S. and Iran, with both nations trading retaliatory actions.
The U.S. and Iran are pushing military and economic pressure on each other, while Tehran threatens further escalation by targeting U.S. oil and gas interests in the Gulf. Separately, Iran-backed Houthis attacked four cities in Saudi Arabia, injuring 73 people, due to ongoing tensions between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
The renewed fighting in the region threatens to disrupt shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a crucial trade route for oil and global commerce.
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