In a significant escalation of hostilities, Iran has intensified its missile strikes against the US military base at Al-Azraq in Jordan. This surge in aggression appears to be a direct response to recent attacks on Iranian oil tankers and ongoing tensions with the United States.

On the night of September 8 and into the early hours of September 9, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it had launched a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting the Muwaffaq Salti Airport, commonly known as Al-Azraq Air Base. This facility houses American military personnel and equipment. According to the Jordanian military, they successfully intercepted 18 out of 20 missiles, with the remaining two landing in unpopulated areas, causing no casualties.

The IRGC claimed that their missile strikes inflicted significant damage on maintenance and deployment areas for advanced fighter jets, including the F-35, F-16, and F-15, as well as aircraft hangars at the base. A US official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that no injuries were reported, suggesting that Iran's attack was ineffective against the integrated missile defense systems in place.

This missile attack is part of a broader escalation that has been unfolding over the past two weeks, following US strikes on Iranian missile launch sites on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz. The US has accused Iran of preparing to deploy mines, prompting Tehran to retaliate against US facilities in neighboring Gulf countries and now extending its operations into Jordan.

A 2026 report from the US Congressional Research Service indicates that Jordan hosts nearly 4,000 American troops, with some stationed at Al-Azraq, King Faisal Military Airport, and Tower 22, a remote logistics outpost in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian and Iraqi borders. Tehran claims to have conducted over ten attacks on Al-Azraq from March to September, with notable incidents occurring on June 10 and July 17, when Iran employed ballistic missiles and UAVs against US military aircraft, resulting in damage and casualties among US personnel.

The strategic importance of Al-Azraq cannot be overstated. Located approximately 100 kilometers northeast of Amman, it serves as a critical base for both Jordan and the United States. Tahani Mustafa, a lecturer in international relations at King's College London, emphasized that Al-Azraq is one of the few bases equipped with F-35, F-16, and F-22 fighter jets, making it a prime target for Iranian attacks.

David Schenker, a scholar at the Washington Institute, noted that the base has become a key logistical hub for US C-17 transport aircraft and around 60 fighter jets. Jordan's location provides a significant strategic depth, crucial for the US-led campaign against Iran, offering a safe distance from Tehran's missiles and UAVs compared to Gulf nations.

A 2023 report from the US Congressional Research Service further highlighted the vital role of Jordanian air bases in conducting intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) missions in Syria and Iraq. Although the US did not officially acknowledge its presence at Al-Azraq prior to a 2021 defense cooperation agreement with Jordan, satellite imagery has shown that it has hosted US UAVs and supersonic jets since at least 2016. In 2017, the US Congress approved a budget of $143 million to expand the airfield, underscoring its growing strategic significance.