Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched a combined missile and drone operation targeting two US military bases in Jordan on Monday, in response to a US attack on Iran's Larak Island the previous day.
The Iranian military operation, named "Punishment of the Aggressor" by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), targeted the King Hussein and Al Azraq bases in Jordan. According to the IRGC's statement, the strikes destroyed technical infrastructure, repair facilities, and fighter deployment sites, causing what it characterized as significant damage to US military capabilities in the region.
Jordan's military reported a different assessment of the attack's impact, stating that air defence systems successfully intercepted eight missiles that entered Jordanian airspace early Monday morning. No casualties were reported at either of the targeted bases, according to available information.
The escalation marks the first significant military exchange between the two countries since late July. Iran had previously signaled its intention to respond to the US attack on Larak Island, which occurred on Sunday. The IRGC's statement suggested the retaliation reflects broader tensions over regional influence, stating that "aggression and crimes will not solve the enemy's desperation in attempting to weaken the Islamic Republic's control over the Strait of Hormuz, and every attack will be met with even more devastating responses."
The US military rejected characterizations of its strikes as aggressive action. The incident occurs as the broader US-Israel military engagement with Iran enters its seventh month, and amid a reported shift in American strategy from bombing campaigns toward financial pressure tactics against Tehran.