Iran claims missile strike on U.S. military aircraft in Jordan

Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for a ballistic missile strike targeting U.S. military aircraft stationed at Aqaba Airport in Jordan.

According to Iranian officials, the attack targeted U.S. C-17 military transport aircraft and P-8 command-and-control aircraft. Tehran claims that several aircraft were severely damaged in the strike, though the claims have not been independently verified.

In an official statement, the IRGC said the attack was carried out as part of the 21st wave of "Operation Nasr-2." The force claimed the operation was based on confidential intelligence provided by local residents in Jordan.

The IRGC also thanked local supporters for their alleged assistance, claiming that an earlier rocket attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan's Azraq region had likewise been made possible through intelligence supplied by Jordanian civilians. The group further alleged that the previous attack destroyed 20 military installations and killed dozens of U.S. troops. Those claims have not been independently confirmed.

The reported missile strike came after loud explosions were heard in several major Iranian cities. Shortly afterward, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it had conducted a ninth consecutive night of airstrikes across Iran.

According to the U.S. military, the campaign is aimed at protecting international commercial shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and degrading Iran's military capabilities.

Although Iran and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding in June through Pakistani mediation to establish a ceasefire and pursue lasting peace, military tensions between the two countries have escalated sharply in recent weeks.

In response to continued U.S. airstrikes, Tehran has claimed to be carrying out retaliatory attacks against U.S. military bases and facilities across the Middle East, signaling a further intensification of the regional conflict.