Iran targets US fighter jets in Jordan, sparks concern across Middle East

Tehran: Amid the conflict in West Asia, Iran has claimed to have attacked several US military aircraft stationed in Jordan using ballistic missiles and drones. This strike was carried out in retaliation for overnight US attacks on multiple locations in Tehran, which resulted in at least eight deaths.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that they destroyed several US aerial refueling tankers and fighter jets, while causing severe damage to others. They also urged the people of Jordan to target the interests of "aggressive and anti-Islam" Americans within their country.

Was this Retaliation by Iran for the killing of soldiers?

According to Iranian media reports, the IRGC stated that they also attacked a US Special Operations command center at Al-Tanf in Syria in retaliation for the killing of Iranian soldiers in Iranshahr. Currently, this claim cannot be independently verified, and there has been no immediate comment from either the Syrian government or the US military regarding the matter.

Were Gulf nations also targeted by Iran?

The US military had previously stated in February 2026 that it had withdrawn from the Al-Tanf outpost, located at the tri-border junction of Syria, Jordan, and Iraq. Meanwhile, sounds of explosions were heard in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah within the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. Tehran also launched new missile attacks against US allies in the Middle East—including Qatar—and damaged a power and water desalination plant in Kuwait.

What about US attacks on Iran?

It is worth noting that the US has intensified its attacks on Iran, targeting various bridges and electrical infrastructure. Additionally, a tower at a key Iranian port was destroyed. These actions followed threats from US President Donald Trump, who had spoken of attacking Iran's infrastructure to exert pressure on Tehran. The objective was to loosen Tehran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz. US attacks have targeted cities and islands along Iran's southern coast, including Ahvaz, Qeshm, Bushehr, Dashti, Bostan, Sirik, and Bandar-e Lengeh. These areas have suffered significant damage from the US strikes.