Iran Targets US Air Base in Jordan as Washington Concludes Five-Hour Strike Campaign

DUBAI: Iran said on Tuesday it had launched a ballistic missile attack on a United States military air base in Jordan, while the U.S. military announced it had completed a five-hour wave of strikes against military targets across Iran, marking a further escalation in the widening regional conflict.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the missile strike targeted the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, alleging that the facility had been used to support U.S. military operations against Iran. Jordan’s armed forces said they intercepted four ballistic missiles that entered the country’s airspace, and no casualties or significant damage were immediately reported.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces had concluded five hours of coordinated air operations, striking Iranian coastal defence systems, missile launch sites, drone facilities and military infrastructure at several locations, including Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, Jask, Chabahar, Konarak and Abu Musa Island. The operation marked the third consecutive night of U.S. strikes against Iran.

The latest exchange came after President Donald Trump reinstated a naval blockade on Iranian shipping and proposed a 20% fee for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz under U.S. protection. Iran has declared the strategic waterway closed, intensifying concerns over global energy supplies and maritime security.

Regional tensions have also spread to commercial shipping. The United Arab Emirates reported that two of its oil tankers were struck by Iranian cruise missiles in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in the death of one crew member and injuries to several others. Tehran claimed the vessels had ignored warnings and were operating in coordination with U.S. forces.

The renewed hostilities have heightened fears of a broader regional conflict, with oil prices rising and international calls growing for restraint and a return to diplomacy. Military and political leaders across the region remain on high alert as the confrontation between Washington and Tehran continues to intensify.