Iran has launched a military response against US-linked bases in Jordan after American forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first direct exchange of attacks between Washington and Tehran in several weeks.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it launched missile and drone attacks against the King Hussein and Al Azraq bases in Jordan in retaliation for the US operation on Larak Island.

Jordanian authorities said their air-defence systems intercepted eight missiles that entered the country's airspace. No injuries were reported at the bases, according to the latest information available.

US Strikes Larak Island

The latest escalation began when US forces carried out strikes against two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island, located in the Strait of Hormuz.

US Central Command said the operation was a limited and precise action. US officials said the launchers posed an immediate threat because Iranian forces were preparing to use them to deploy naval mines in the strategic waterway.

The US military has maintained that the operation was intended to prevent Iranian forces from interfering with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran, however, described the American operation as an attack on its territory.

Iranian state media reported that the US strikes caused deaths and injuries among Iranian fighters and civilians, although no confirmed casualty figure had been provided in the latest reports.

Iran Retaliates in Jordan

Following the American strikes, the IRGC announced that it had launched a missile and drone operation against two locations in Jordan hosting US military assets.

The two locations identified by Iran were King Hussein Air Base and Al Azraq Air Base.

Jordan's military said its air-defence systems intercepted eight missiles that entered Jordanian airspace.

The Jordanian authorities did not report casualties or damage at the bases following the interceptions.

The IRGC claimed its attacks caused damage to military infrastructure at the targeted locations, but those claims had not been independently verified in the latest reports.

UAE Denies Iranian Claim of Base Attack

Iran also reported that it had targeted a US-linked facility in the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE government rejected reports that its Al Minhad Air Base had been attacked.

The UAE Ministry of Defence said its forces had intercepted a drone originating from Iran over UAE territorial waters but described reports that the air base had been attacked as false.

This distinction is important because claims about military strikes in the region have not all been independently confirmed.

Eight Missiles Intercepted Over Jordan

The Jordanian military's announcement provides the clearest confirmed information about the attack on its territory.

According to the military, eight missiles were intercepted after entering Jordanian airspace.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths connected to the missile interceptions.

The Jordanian response comes as the country again finds itself caught between the United States and Iran, both of which have military interests and facilities in the wider region.

Iran Says It Is Ready to Respond

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran was not seeking war but would not remain passive in the face of what he described as aggression.

His comments came as the latest military exchanges threatened to reopen a wider confrontation between Iran and the United States.

The latest attacks represent the first major exchange between the two sides since late July, according to Al Jazeera.

Strait of Hormuz Remains at the Centre

The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the latest escalation.

The narrow waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is one of the world's most important routes for oil shipments.

The United States has been conducting operations in the area while Iran has maintained pressure over the waterway.

The US said the Larak operation was connected to Iranian preparations involving naval mines, while Tehran has continued to reject Washington's claims about its actions in the strait.

The renewed military action has also affected financial markets. Oil prices rose by more than 2% on Monday amid renewed concerns about possible disruptions to energy supplies.

Trump Threatens Further Action

US President Donald Trump has threatened further military action against Iran following the latest exchange.

Trump also posted a video on social media that purported to show Iran's Kharg Island being destroyed. Reuters reported that the video was AI-generated and that there was no evidence that the US had attacked Kharg Island. A US official said the island had not been targeted in the overnight strikes.

That distinction is significant as the conflict continues to generate competing claims and unverified material online.

What Is Confirmed So Far

The situation remains active, with Washington and Tehran issuing competing accounts of the latest military operations.

For now, the confirmed developments show a renewed exchange of fire after weeks without a direct US-Iran military confrontation.

Iran's attacks on US-linked facilities in Jordan followed the American strike on Larak Island, bringing the conflict back into an active military phase and raising fresh concerns over security around the Strait of Hormuz.

Source

Al Jazeera 