Jordan said its air defenses intercepted eight missiles after Iran retaliated for a U.S. attack on launchers near the Strait of Hormuz.
AMMAN, JORDAN — Iran launched missiles toward U.S. military sites in Jordan early Monday after American forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island, renewing direct fighting between Washington and Tehran after a lull of about a month.
The exchange marked a sharp escalation around the Strait of Hormuz, where the United States says Iranian forces have continued efforts to threaten international shipping. U.S. officials said the American strike targeted two launchers after members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were observed preparing rockets capable of carrying sea mines into the waterway. Iran said it responded by targeting U.S. sites in Jordan.
The Jordanian Armed Forces said its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed eight missiles that entered the kingdom’s airspace early Monday. The military said the missiles were eliminated before they posed a threat to civilians or property. Jordan did not say in its statement that the intercepted weapons had struck their intended targets.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it launched ballistic missiles and drones at the King Hussein and Azraq bases in Jordan in retaliation for the American operation. The Guard claimed its attack damaged technical and maintenance infrastructure and areas used for aircraft. Those claims could not immediately be independently confirmed. Other reporting indicated there were no injuries at the two bases.
The U.S. attack came Sunday on Larak Island, an Iranian island near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. A U.S. official said American forces struck two Iranian launchers after Revolutionary Guard personnel were seen preparing to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the strait. U.S. Central Command described the operation as a limited and precise action intended to stop what it considered an imminent threat to navigation.
Iran disputed the U.S. account of the operation and described the attack as aggression. Iranian state media, citing the Revolutionary Guard, reported that several Iranian fighters and civilians were killed or wounded in the strikes, but no detailed casualty figure was immediately provided. The Guard promised retaliation, which was followed hours later by the missile attack toward Jordan.
The confrontation was the first publicly acknowledged U.S. military strike against Iranian forces since July 29, when the American military announced a wave of attacks against Revolutionary Guard targets. Fighting between Iran and the United States had eased in recent weeks, but disputes over the Strait of Hormuz remained unresolved. The waterway is one of the world’s most important routes for oil and other energy shipments.
U.S. officials have said American forces recently cleared mines from international shipping routes in the strait and have warned Iran against placing new mines there. Before the wider conflict, roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passed through the Strait of Hormuz. The months of fighting and restrictions on shipping have made control and access to the passage a central point of confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
The broader conflict began Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, followed by Iranian strikes on Israel and Gulf states that host American forces. The war has lasted more than six months and has killed thousands of people across the region and displaced millions, according to reporting on the conflict. Eighteen U.S. service members have also been killed since the fighting began.
Monday’s exchange left both sides signaling that they remain prepared to use military force even as Washington also increases economic pressure on Tehran. Jordan’s military said its forces remained on alert to protect the country’s airspace and sovereignty. No additional casualty figures from the Iranian attack on Jordan had been confirmed as of Monday, and the extent of any damage to U.S. facilities remained unclear.
Author note: Last updated August 31, 2026.