Jordan intercepts eight Iranian rockets amid escalating US-Iran strikes

Jordanian air defenses successfully intercepted eight rockets originating from Iran on Thursday, the Jordanian military announced. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran, however, stated it had attacked a U.S. command and control center in West Asia and an enemy air base in Al-Azraq, Jordan, using 10 ballistic missiles.

The IRGC further warned that if the "American terrorist forces" repeated their incursions, other U.S. military bases in the region would face severe attacks. These missile launches marked the second consecutive day of retaliatory strikes between the U.S. and Iran, following dozens of U.S. airstrikes on Iran. The exchange tested a fragile ceasefire amidst ongoing disputes over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The Jordanian military reported that debris from the intercepted rockets fell in several locations but caused no casualties or property damage. The military affirmed its commitment to preventing any violations of Jordanian airspace by any party. Earlier on Thursday, Jordanian government spokesperson Mohammad al-Momani confirmed that warning sirens sounded after rockets entered the country's airspace before being intercepted.

This marks the first time Jordan has announced intercepting Iranian rockets since June 11, when its military reported shooting down 20 rockets after the IRGC claimed to have targeted a U.S. military command center in Jordan in response to U.S. attacks on Iran. The Al-Azraq area hosts a Jordanian air base previously used by U.S., German, Belgian, and French forces as part of the campaign against ISIS.