Iran launches ballistic missiles at Jordanian air base used by U.S. forces, testing fragile ceasefire
Iran fired ten ballistic missiles at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base on Thursday, and Jordan intercepted eight of them. The strike was part of a wider escalatory wave across the Gulf, with Kuwait and Bahrain also targeted.
The attack
Iran's Revolutionary Guards launched 10 ballistic missiles at Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti Air Base (also known as Azraq military base) on Thursday, July 9, according to a statement carried by state media. The strike targeted a facility that hosts both Jordanian forces and nearly 4,000 American troops. The attack followed U.S. strikes on Iran's southern coastal and eastern provinces, which had already undermined a three-week-old ceasefire agreement.
Interception and damage
Jordan's military intercepted and shot down eight of the incoming missiles, reporting no casualties or damage from fallen debris. The discrepancy between ten fired and eight intercepted leaves two missiles unaccounted for; no further detail was given on their fate.
U.S. bases in the region would be targeted if U.S. aggression was repeated.
Regional escalation
Thursday's launch was part of a broader Iranian operation. Kuwait and Bahrain both reported coming under attack the same day, according to The New York Times. Iranian forces said they struck U.S. military infrastructure in Gulf states, explicitly linking their actions to the earlier U.S. bombing of Iranian coastal and eastern provinces.
Ceasefire in jeopardy
The U.S. and Iran had agreed in late June to a deal aimed at restoring calm after weeks of hostilities, but this week's violence has pushed the accord to breaking point. Reuters described the latest attacks as putting "further strain on a three-week-old ceasefire agreement." The cycle of retaliation now threatens to unravel the truce entirely.
Jordan's balancing act
The strikes underscore Jordan's precarious position. A close U.S. partner, the kingdom officially insists it hosts no independent foreign bases, yet it remains a target because of defense ties. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi has stressed that foreign forces on Jordanian soil operate under agreements ensuring Amman's sole decision-making power. However, critics argue the distinction offers little protection, as the kingdom becomes increasingly exposed to regional spillovers.
