Full Breakdown
Iran’s Missile Strikes on Jordan’s Al-Azraq Air Base
9/9/2026, 9:51:46 PM
Recent Missile Attacks
In the latest escalation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a barrage of 20 ballistic missiles toward the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base (commonly known as Al-Azraq) in Jordan’s Zarqa governorate. The Jordanian Armed Forces reported that 18 missiles were intercepted and destroyed, while the remaining two fell in open areas without causing casualties. Earlier in the campaign, Iran claimed strikes on the base on June 10 and again on July 17, asserting damage to hangars, command centres, refuelling aircraft and fighter jets. US Central Command later confirmed that the July 17 attack resulted in two US service members killed, one missing and four injured.
Strategic Role of Al-Azraq
Al-Azraq, located roughly 100 km northeast of Amman in the Eastern Desert, is one of the few Jordanian installations that host advanced US fighter jets, including F-35, F-16, F-15 and F-22 aircraft. The base also serves as a logistics hub for C-17 transport planes and supports about 60 combat aircraft. A 2023 Congressional Research Service report highlighted the base’s importance for US intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISR) missions over Syria and Iraq. Since a 2021 defence-cooperation agreement, the United States has access to 12 Jordanian sites, with an estimated 4,000 US personnel stationed across the kingdom, including at Al-Azraq, King Faisal Air Base and the remote “Tower 22” outpost near the Syrian and Iraqi borders.
Official Reactions
Jordan’s military emphasized the successful interception of the majority of missiles and the absence of casualties. The IRGC, via the semi-official Tasnim news agency, described the strikes as “devastating” and claimed they hit maintenance, preparation and deployment sites for US fighter jets, inflicting heavy damage. US officials, while acknowledging the attacks, stressed the resilience of integrated air-defence systems. Analysts such as Tahani Mustafa of King’s College London and David Schenker of the Washington Institute underscored the base’s strategic value, noting that Jordan provides “great strategic depth” for US operations against Iran compared with Gulf-region sites.
Broader Implications
The attacks illustrate Iran’s expanding focus beyond Gulf states to include Jordanian assets that support US regional power projection. The repeated targeting of Al-Azraq underscores its role as a critical logistics and ISR node, making it a focal point in the ongoing US-Iran confrontation. The incident also highlights the effectiveness of Jordan’s air-defence capabilities, while the reported US casualties suggest that Iran’s missile and drone tactics can still pose a lethal threat to forward-deployed forces.
