Iran-US Military Strikes: Missile Attack on Jordan Bases

Iran fired dozens of ballistic missiles at American military bases in Jordan overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, in retaliation for a U.S. strike against Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf region.

Jordan announced that 20 ballistic missiles were fired from Iran toward its territory. Jordanian air defense systems successfully intercepted and destroyed 18 of them, according to official statements. The two remaining missiles fell in remote areas far from population centers, causing no reported casualties, besides a Jordanian source claiming direct hits on American bases and reports of US soldiers being hit, with no independent confirmation.

OSINT accounts and Israeli media reported that Iranian forces used medium-range ballistic missiles with cluster munitions against US forces in Jordan.

Israeli citizens reported seeing the missile barrage in the country's skies, but Israeli security officials clarified that Israel had no involvement in intercepting the Iranian-launched missiles and that none of the projectiles crossed into Israeli territory.

A U.S. official told ABC News that the Iranian missile attack toward Jordan was "ineffective," saying Iran's response failed against integrated air and missile defenses and that American forces had 100% accountability at all locations in Jordan.

Photo: Interceptions as seen from Israel

The Iranian attack came in response to an American military operation carried out earlier in the night. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that its forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) twice directed ballistic missiles at an American naval vessel over the previous two days.

According to the U.S. statement: "The American warship successfully evaded the Iranian attack attempts and continued patrolling regional waters. No damage was caused to American crew members."

Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed early this morning that they struck two American vessels and eight oil tankers in the Gulf, in response to the American operation that destroyed five Iranian oil tankers.

Tensions in the Persian Gulf have intensified in recent weeks against the backdrop of an American naval blockade on Iran, which was reinstated on July 14 following the collapse of temporary understandings. According to previous reports, Central Command stated that since the blockade's renewal, approximately 86 commercial vessels attempting to breach it have been turned away.

The American move is designed to tighten economic pressure on Tehran and disrupt Iran's maritime trade traffic in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Iran is currently facing a severe economic crisis, with senior figures in the Iranian leadership publicly warning about the crisis's implications.