Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has said it launched missiles and drones at two US bases in Jordan, retaliating for a US strike on Larak Island on Sunday.
In a statement carried by Iranian media, the IRGC said the operation, dubbed “Punishment of the Aggressor,” targeted the King Hussein and Al Azraq bases, destroying “technical and repair infrastructure” and fighter deployment sites, Al Jazeera reports.
Jordan’s military confirmed its air defenses intercepted eight missiles that breached the kingdom’s airspace at dawn. No casualties were reported at either base.
The IRGC warned that “every attack will be met with even more devastating responses,” accusing Washington of trying to weaken Tehran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz.
The exchange marked the first flare‑up between the two sides since late July and came as the US shifts from airstrikes to financial pressure in its seven‑month war on Iran.
US Central Command (Centcom) denied its Sunday strike was an act of aggression, saying it took “limited, precise action” to stop Iranian forces from laying mines in the strait. Iran’s Fars news agency claimed the US attack killed and wounded soldiers, without giving figures.
Washington has insisted millions of barrels of oil are moving through the strait under US protection despite Tehran’s blockade, though ship attacks continue almost daily. Iran maintains the waterway is closed.
The confrontation underscores US willingness to use force alongside intensified sanctions aimed at concessions on Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran has previously answered similar US strikes with missile and drone attacks on bases hosting American troops in neighboring states.
Last week, President Donald Trump’s administration announced secondary sanctions to isolate Iran financially, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned military action remained on the table. US officials argue Iran is losing control of Hormuz and nearing economic collapse under sanctions and a naval blockade.
Iranian leaders remain defiant. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday dismissed US claims of oil shipments through the strait, accusing Washington and Israel‑aligned actors of manipulating energy markets for political gain.
Despite reports of US advances, oil prices remain high. Average US petrol prices are above $4 a gallon, up from under $3 when the war began in late February. Rising energy costs are fueling inflation and could weigh on Trump’s Republican Party ahead of November’s midterm elections.
