Jordan Intercepts Iranian Missiles, After Americans Halt Barrage of Iranian Rockets

Jordanian air defense intercepted five missiles launched early this morning from Iran, the country’s military announced several hours after the U.S. Central Command reported it had shot down a barrage of Iranian missiles launched against American forces in the Middle East, breaking a brief pause in fighting.

The Jordanian military stated that the missiles were “intercepted and destroyed.”

Previously, the U.S. Central Command said it “remains vigilant” and at a high level of readiness, and that together with Saudi Arabian forces, it had targeted locations in Iraq that in recent days had been used by Iran-backed militias to launch attacks.

Releasing information about the attacks on Iraq, the U.S. warned that further armed actions against American forces or Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure would lead to additional action on their part.

The U.S. and Iran had entered a period of calm during which neither side reported attacks for days following weeks of escalation around the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a waterway in the Persian Gulf and a chokepoint through which 20 percent of the world’s oil passes under normal conditions.

Iran carried out a ballistic missile attack before American and Saudi forces conducted strikes in Iraq, said a U.S. official, emphasizing that the two attacks were not connected.

“American and Saudi fighter jets struck multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq in a strong response to more than 30 air drone attacks by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in the past 72 hours,” the U.S. Central Command stated.

Central Command added that the Revolutionary Guard and “their terrorist accomplices must cease these attacks to avoid further U.S. military response.”

The Saudi Ministry of Defense confirmed that strikes had been carried out, in a statement via social media, and warned that “the Kingdom emphasizes that it does not seek escalation but will respond to any aggression it faces.”

Saudi Arabia also stated that yesterday it shot down drones launched by Iran-backed Iraqi militias, while Yemeni Houthi rebels, also supported by Iran, announced they had forced a Saudi tanker to turn back as part of their blockade of Saudi Arabia.