Iran attacks Jordan in a sharp escalation of the ongoing conflict. On Monday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced they had fired ballistic missiles at two US military air bases in Jordan, claiming the strikes caused heavy damage. The move came as direct retaliation for American attacks on Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz a day earlier.
Jordan’s army reported that it successfully intercepted eight incoming missiles but did not confirm their origin. Iran also claimed a drone strike on the UAE’s Al Minhad Air Base, though the UAE Ministry of Defence firmly denied any such attack and called the reports false. The UAE did confirm that its air force engaged a drone that entered its territorial waters from Iran.
Washington said its limited and precise strikes on Larak Island targeted IRGC minelaying forces that posed an imminent threat. US Central Command explained the action was meant to stop Iran from placing more sea mines in the vital waterway after recently clearing explosives from international shipping routes. The Guards said the US operation caused casualties and described their response as necessary against what they called US-Zionist aggression.
The exchange marks a fresh flare-up in a war that has already lasted six months. Hostilities had been easing in recent weeks as the Trump administration shifted focus toward economic pressure. President Trump posted that Kharg Island, Iran’s key oil export hub, was being “blown to smithereens,” though no further details were given. Kharg previously handled 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports.
Tehran has kept the Strait of Hormuz largely blocked, affecting global oil and fertilizer supplies. Oil prices reacted quickly, with Brent crude climbing back above $90 a barrel. Diplomatic efforts led by Pakistan and Qatar have so far failed to produce a lasting peace deal despite earlier ceasefire attempts.
US Senator Jack Reed criticized the conflict, stating that after six months not a single objective has been achieved and that America’s position in the region has weakened. With midterm elections approaching, the war remains deeply unpopular among the American public.
