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Iran has launched a sustained campaign of ballistic missile and drone strikes against Jordanian military bases, and Israel is now warning publicly that the conflict could bleed further into the region.
The strikes are landing on bases that host US and coalition forces, and the casualties are American.
What is actually happening on the ground
Iran’s strikes have targeted two specific Jordanian installations: the Muwaffaq Salti air base and the Azraq base, both of which serve as operating locations for US and coalition military personnel.
Jordan’s air defense forces have been busy. On July 9, they intercepted 8 of 10 incoming projectiles. On July 13, they knocked down 4 missiles. On July 16, another 8 were intercepted.
July 17 changed the accounting. A combined ballistic missile and drone attack got through, and two US service members were confirmed killed.
Iran has framed the strikes as retaliation for ongoing US and Israeli military operations targeting Iranian capabilities.
Why Jordan is the battlefield
Jordan is a close US ally with longstanding security arrangements that make its bases natural targets for anyone trying to pressure Washington. It shares borders with Israel, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.
Iran’s strikes have also extended to Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq, according to reporting on the broader campaign. The pattern suggests a deliberate strategy of distributing pressure across multiple US-aligned states rather than concentrating it in one place.
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