Iran launched ballistic missiles toward US military bases in Jordan on Tuesday evening in response to American strikes on Iranian targets, Axios reported, as Tehran vowed further retaliation for what it described as US aggression.
The IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency described the attack as one of Iran’s largest missile barrages of the recent fighting. It said the strikes followed previous Iranian warnings that any American attack would trigger a response several times greater, while adding that details of the main targets would be officially released later.
The Jordanian military said Iran launched 13 ballistic missiles toward the kingdom. The country’s air defense systems intercepted 10 of them, while the remaining three missiles, according to the military, “exploded in areas far from population centers."
Meanwhile, two US officials told Reuters that there were no casualties among American forces stationed in Jordan.
Later, Iranian media reported that Tehran attacked a US military base in Bahrain using drones. Reuters noted that there has been no official confirmation of the report at this time.
Explosions were also heard in Kuwait. The Kuwaiti army later stated that the country's air defenses are engaging Iranian ballistic missiles and drones.
Iranian Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia had warned earlier that Tehran would respond soon to the US strikes.
“We will undoubtedly take revenge for the aggression and hostility very soon," Akraminia wrote on social media.
He said the response would be “swift, crushing and widespread."
The Iranian retaliation followed the launch of US strikes against IRGC targets in Iran. Initial reports said Qeshm Island and Chabahar were among the areas targeted, with explosions reported at both locations.
US Central Command confirmed the beginning of the operation, stating, "Today at 12:00 PM Eastern Time, US forces began attacking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets in Iran. The attacks come after recent attempted attacks by the Revolutionary Guard Corps against commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz and against US service members deployed to the region."
In a subsequent statement, CENTCOM announced that its forces successfully completed the wave of strikes against Iranian military targets.
“US forces struck Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets including air defense sites, radar systems, maritime assets and facilities, mine laying capabilities, and communications sites," it said.
“The strikes follow recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members," added CENTCOM.
President Donald Trump said the American strikes were carried out in response to Iranian activity in the Strait of Hormuz and an earlier missile attack against a US military base in Jordan, warning Iran of more powerful strikes if it retaliated.
"The United States is, as we speak, striking Iranian Targets near the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes are large and powerful, and in retaliation for the Iranians’ failed attempt at adding sea mines to the Strait, which currently has no mines (They have been completely removed or detonated!), and the Iranians shooting eight missiles, all successfully knocked down, at our Military Base in Jordan," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, but it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings and, when it is over, there will be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran!" he added.