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Jordan intercepts five missiles launched by Iran targeting US base
Jordanian air defenses shot down five missiles and a drone aimed near the Muwaffaq al-Salti Air Base, escalating tensions in an already volatile region.
Jordanian air defenses intercepted five missiles and one drone launched from Iran on March 25, targeting the vicinity of the Muwaffaq al-Salti Air Base in Azraq. The base hosts both Jordanian and US military personnel, making it one of the most strategically sensitive installations in the Middle East.
This isn’t a one-off event. It’s part of a pattern that has been intensifying since early 2026, with Iran launching what amounts to dozens to hundreds of projectiles toward the region over the course of February and March alone. Jordan has managed to intercept the vast majority, but some earlier barrages caused debris to fall on Jordanian soil, injuring civilians.
A base in the crosshairs
The Muwaffaq al-Salti Air Base has been a recurring feature in Iranian military rhetoric for months. Tehran has repeatedly identified the facility as a legitimate retaliation target due to the presence of US forces stationed there.
Previous interceptions earlier in March followed a similar playbook. Iranian forces launched projectiles, Jordanian defenses responded, and the cycle continued.
The civilian injuries from falling debris in earlier incidents underscore a reality that military planners know well. Even successful interceptions aren’t clean. Missile fragments have to land somewhere, and in populated areas, that somewhere is often someone’s neighborhood.
The broader conflict landscape
These strikes are part of the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict that has been reshaping the security architecture of the Middle East throughout 2026. Iran’s willingness to directly target a facility in a sovereign nation that isn’t a primary combatant, Jordan, represents a significant escalation in the rules of engagement.
The domestic political implications inside Jordan are considerable. National security discussions have intensified, with questions being raised about the costs and benefits of hosting US military assets. When citizens are getting injured by debris from missiles aimed at someone else’s forces on your soil, that’s a conversation that writes itself.