MANAMA / AMMAN — Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched coordinated ballistic missile strikes early Tuesday against two high-profile U.S. military installations: the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. The attacks, confirmed by multiple Iranian state-linked media outlets and partially corroborated by regional governments, mark the first direct Iranian missile assault on U.S. military sites in two allied nations since the 1991 Gulf War.
What Happened
According to Iran’s PressTV, the IRGC fired multiple ballistic missiles at the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet command center in Manama, Bahrain, and the U.S. airbase in Azraq, Jordan. PressTV reported the strikes were retaliation for what Iran described as “continuous American aggression,” including recent U.S. airstrikes in Iraq and Syria that killed at least 45 people, many of them members of Iranian-backed militias.
Jordan’s military confirmed it intercepted four incoming missiles, all of which were shot down before reaching their targets. In a statement, the Royal Jordanian Air Force said the projectiles were detected and neutralized without causing damage or casualties. While Jordan did not explicitly name Iran as the source, it noted the trajectory and technical characteristics were consistent with Iranian ballistic missile technology.
Videos circulating on social media, verified by regional outlets including The Times of India, showed at least one Iranian missile painted with the phrase “GAME OVER USA” in bold red letters. Herald Express could not independently authenticate the footage, but the imagery aligns with previous Iranian military propaganda, including similar slogans used during the 2020 missile attack on Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq.
In a separate claim, the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency reported that Iranian naval forces destroyed U.S. radar installations in Oman using domestically produced missiles and drones. Tasnim provided no independent evidence of damage or casualties, and the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has not issued any statement regarding the alleged strikes in Oman.
Why It Matters
The attacks represent a dramatic escalation in the long-running shadow war between Iran and the United States. While both nations have engaged in proxy conflicts, cyberattacks, and covert operations for decades, Tuesday’s missile strikes are the first direct Iranian assault on U.S. military installations in two U.S.-allied nations since the 1991 Gulf War. The Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain is the nerve center for U.S. naval operations across the Middle East, including the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and Arabian Sea, while the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan serves as a critical logistics and operational hub for U.S. counterterrorism and regional security missions.
The strikes come at a time of heightened regional instability. In recent weeks, the U.S. has conducted multiple airstrikes against Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, following attacks on U.S. personnel and facilities. Iran has vowed retaliation, and Tuesday’s missile launches appear to fulfill that threat. However, the decision to target installations in Bahrain and Jordan—both close U.S. allies—risks drawing those nations more deeply into the conflict and could provoke a direct U.S. military response.
Background and Context
Tensions between Iran and the U.S. have been escalating since the Trump administration’s 2018 withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal. Since then, the U.S. has imposed sweeping economic sanctions on Iran, while Iran has gradually reduced its compliance with the deal’s nuclear restrictions. In recent months, Iran has accelerated its uranium enrichment program, raising concerns in Washington and among European allies about Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
The U.S. and Iran have engaged in a series of tit-for-tat attacks in the region. In January 2020, the U.S. assassinated IRGC Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike in Baghdad, prompting Iran to launch missile strikes on Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq, which housed U.S. troops. While that attack caused no fatalities, it resulted in more than 100 traumatic brain injuries among U.S. service members.
Since October 2023, Iranian-backed militias have launched more than 160 attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, according to U.S. officials. The U.S. has responded with a series of airstrikes, including a February 2 strike that killed at least 45 people in Iraq and Syria, many of them members of the Kata’ib Hezbollah militia. Iran has framed these strikes as violations of Iraqi and Syrian sovereignty and has repeatedly warned of retaliation.
Competing Claims and Uncertainty
While Iranian state media have claimed the missile strikes were successful and caused significant damage, no independent verification of casualties or destruction has been provided. The U.S. has not issued an official statement on the attacks, and neither Bahrain nor Jordan has reported any damage to U.S. installations on their soil. This lack of independent confirmation raises questions about the actual impact of the strikes.
Jordan’s successful interception of all four missiles suggests that the attacks may have been more symbolic than strategically effective. However, the psychological and political impact could be substantial, particularly as the strikes coincide with heightened tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and its support for militant groups across the region.
The U.S. has not yet responded to the attacks, but military analysts warn that Washington may feel compelled to retaliate to deter further Iranian aggression. Any U.S. response will likely be measured to avoid triggering a full-scale war, though the risk of miscalculation remains high. The U.S. has previously responded to Iranian provocations with cyberattacks, sanctions, and targeted airstrikes, but a direct military response to an attack on U.S. soil in allied nations would mark a significant escalation.
What to Watch Next
1. U.S. Response: The most immediate question is how the U.S. will respond. The Biden administration has emphasized its desire to avoid a wider regional conflict, but the direct targeting of U.S. military installations in allied nations may force a more robust response. Analysts will be watching for signs of U.S. military action, cyberattacks, or additional sanctions on Iran.
2. Regional Reactions: Bahrain and Jordan have both been key U.S. allies in the region, and their responses to the attacks will be critical. Bahrain hosts the U.S. Fifth Fleet and has a long-standing security partnership with Washington, while Jordan has been a critical partner in counterterrorism operations. Any shift in their posture toward the U.S. or Iran could have significant implications for regional stability.
3. Iranian Domestic Politics: The attacks come at a time of economic hardship and political unrest in Iran. The Iranian government may be seeking to rally domestic support by projecting strength against the U.S. However, a prolonged conflict could further strain Iran’s economy and exacerbate public discontent.
4. Nuclear Escalation: The missile strikes coincide with renewed concerns over Iran’s nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported that Iran has enriched uranium to near-weapons-grade levels, raising alarms in Washington and among European allies. The U.S. and Iran have been engaged in indirect negotiations to revive the JCPOA, but Tuesday’s attacks could derail those efforts.
5. Proxy Warfare: Iran has long relied on proxy groups, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, to project power in the region. The U.S. and its allies will be watching for signs of increased activity by these groups, particularly in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, where Houthi attacks on commercial shipping have disrupted global trade.
Conclusion
Iran’s missile strikes on U.S. military sites in Bahrain and Jordan represent a dangerous escalation in the long-running conflict between Tehran and Washington. While the immediate physical damage appears limited, the political and strategic implications are profound. The attacks risk drawing the U.S. and its regional allies into a wider conflict, with potentially devastating consequences for the Middle East and beyond.
The coming days will be critical in determining whether this latest round of hostilities will spiral into a broader war or whether both sides will seek to de-escalate. For now, the region remains on edge, with the specter of further violence looming large.
Story synopsis gathered from: Google News India – World — source.
Corrections
If you believe this article contains an error, contact Herald Express with the source URL and supporting evidence.
Story synopsis gathered from: Google News India – World (Indian angle) — source.
