Jordan Becomes New Flashpoint in Iran Conflict, Targeted for Pro-U.S. Stance

▲ Iranian Missiles

The Middle Eastern nation of Jordan is emerging as a new flashpoint in the conflict between the United States and Iran, according to a report by the U.S. newspaper The Wall Street Journal.

Analysts suggest this is retaliation for Jordan’s close alignment with the U.S., which has served as a base for airstrikes against Iran.

On July 17, Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones targeting the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Azraq, Jordan.

The attack resulted in the deaths of two U.S. service members, with one person reported missing.

This marked the first instance of U.S. military fatalities from a direct Iranian attack since the resumption of armed hostilities following the collapse of a ceasefire agreement.

Last week, Iran also struck the King Faisal Air Base, where U.S. forces are stationed, and attacked another base in the eastern region, damaging several U.S. Black Hawk helicopters.

On the same day, airstrikes were also carried out against locations including the international airport in the Aqaba region, which borders the Red Sea. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed through state media that the attack was aimed at U.S. military transport aircraft stationed there.

The Wall Street Journal assessed that as the intensity of U.S. attacks against Iran increases, Jordan is becoming a primary target for retaliation, potentially due to the unique nature of its relationship with the U.S.

Unlike other oil-producing nations in the Middle East, Jordan lacks significant oil resources and has long maintained close ties with the U.S., receiving economic and military aid in return.

Under an agreement signed in 2022, Jordan receives $1.45 billion in annual economic assistance from the U.S.

Consequently, Jordan has broadly permitted the U.S. military to utilize bases within its borders to conduct operations.

This level of access is among the most permissive of any Arab nation hosting U.S. bases. As the conflict with Iran has continued for five months, Jordan has naturally emerged as a key hub for U.S. military operations.

While Jordan was previously considered less vulnerable to attack than other Gulf nations like Kuwait or Bahrain due to its greater distance from Iran, it has now become a primary target as tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalate.

Jordan’s limited military capabilities are also analyzed as a factor in these attacks.

The assessment is that the country lacks the power to defend against or retaliate effectively when Iran launches airstrikes.

The Wall Street Journal also analyzed that this is why Iran has focused its missile and drone barrages on U.S. bases in Jordan while refraining from targeting Israel.

Alan Eyre, an Iran expert at the Middle East Institute, explained, "Because of its economic dependence on the U.S., Jordan has sought to fully align with U.S. strategic and regional goals," adding, "Until Iran decided to retaliate against U.S. bases in the region, this was likely a good strategy."

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