Iran has confirmed it launched attacks on US military bases in Jordan and targets in the UAE, in retaliation for a US strike on Larak Island. This marks the first direct confrontation between the two sides since late July.
According to a statement from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), missile and drone strikes targeted the King Hussein and Al Azraq bases in Jordan, destroying technical infrastructure, repair facilities, and enemy aircraft positions, causing significant damage. Tehran called it a "legitimate act of self-defense" under the UN Charter.
Earlier, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed it carried out "limited and precise actions" against IRGC mine-laying forces that were preparing to launch naval mines toward the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM rejected Iran's accusation of "aggression," saying Iran had created a threat and US forces removed it to protect civilians, commercial shipping, and global trade flows.
US President Donald Trump declared on Truth Social that Kharg Island was "blown to smithereens," but Iran has not commented on that statement. Last week, Trump said all mines had been destroyed or removed from the Strait of Hormuz and warned Iran that any vessel laying new mines would be destroyed.
For its part, Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the US attack on Larak Island as a "direct violation of national sovereignty and territorial integrity," causing casualties among civilians and soldiers. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country is "not seeking war" but will "never sit idly by in the face of any aggression," vowing a decisive response to aggressors.
Jordan confirmed it intercepted eight missiles fired by Iran into its airspace. A US official told Al Jazeera that they successfully intercepted the Iranian attacks on Jordan, adding that the attack showed Iran is no longer the force it once was. Iran also claimed it shot down a US MQ-9 drone over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran also announced it launched dozens of drones at US military targets at Al Menhad Air Base in the UAE, where US forces and helicopters are stationed. However, the UAE Ministry of Defense said its air force responded to a drone approaching from Iran over its waters but denied the base was attacked.
Analysts said the tit-for-tat strikes are a scenario US diplomats working with other countries had hoped to avoid. The escalation comes against the backdrop of a six-month conflict that has disrupted global oil supplies. The US has imposed new sanctions on Iran, called an "economic landing," to increase pressure on Tehran, while Iran says those measures will fail and demonstrate that the US military approach is ineffective.
