Iran’s Military Strikes US Bases in Middle East Amid Trump Meeting with Netanyahu
As tensions between Iran and the United States continue to escalate, Iranian forces have launched a series of attacks against US military bases in the Middle East. The strikes, which occurred on Wednesday, targeted multiple locations across Jordan, including Central Command headquarters and an airbase.
According to reports from Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar, who was in Tehran, the latest escalation seemed like a “pre-emptive attack” rather than a reaction to US actions against Iran. This assessment is shared by Jason Campbell, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, who notes that Tehran is trying to regain momentum and retake control of the initiative.
The Iranian attacks were reportedly carried out by ballistic missiles fired from an IRGC air force base in Jordan. The missile interceptions were confirmed by US Central Command (CENTCOM), which stated that “US forces remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness” despite the recent strikes.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued statements condemning these attacks, with its spokesperson claiming that they are part of an ongoing effort to defend Iranian interests. The IRGC also warned that it will continue to target US military bases in the region unless threats against Iran cease and negotiations on a peaceful resolution resume.
The US response to the strikes was swift, with President Donald Trump calling off a two-week bombing campaign on Iran after claiming “good talks” were underway. However, this pause has been met with skepticism by Iranian officials, who have denied seeking to restart negotiations.
As tensions between Iran and the United States continue to rise, oil prices have surged in response to the attacks. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical shipping route for international trade, and any disruption to its traffic could have significant economic implications.
The US military has confirmed that it intercepted multiple ballistic missiles fired by Iran across the Middle East. Five missile interceptions were reported over Jordan, with three targeting oil tankers in the region. These attacks are part of a broader pattern of Iranian aggression against US interests in the region.
In response to these strikes, Oman presented an offer to jointly manage traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, but Tehran has rejected this proposal. Instead, Iran proposes managing shipping on its side of the strait while Muscat manages part but not all of the opposite lane.
The situation remains fluid and unpredictable as both sides continue to engage in a cycle of escalation and counter-escalation. As Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar noted, “This is Iran sending a message to Trump that they need to be involved in all discussions.”
Based on reporting from Al Jazeera.
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