Why Jordan Is Becoming a Key Front in the Expanding Iran-US Conflict
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The Arab Post
- . September 4, 2026
- . Update: September 4, 2026 8:46 pm
The current conflict began on 28 February 2026, when US and Israeli strikes killed a number of senior Iranian officials, including the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, triggering a wave of Iranian retaliation across the region. Iran-US conflict, Almost immediately, Jordan was hit, with missiles and drones crossing into its airspace on the same day, bringing it into the war within hours of the outbreak.
A Pattern of Repeated Attacks
Since then, Jordanian forces have intercepted Iranian projectiles several times, including attacks in April and June targeting Azraq, which hosts a key US military presence. The trend accelerated dramatically in early September, when Iran carried out retaliatory strikes on US bases in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq after fresh American attacks on Iranian targets. Jordan’s military said it intercepted 10 of the 13 missiles fired at the country, with the rest landing in open ground.
Why Jordan continues to get pulled in
Jordan’s exposure is largely due to hosting US military installations used to support operations throughout the region, making it a natural target whenever Iran retaliates against Washington. Iran’s military command has specifically mentioned Jordan, as well as Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq, in its threats, saying it would retaliate against any country cooperating with US forces. Even Ukraine has sent specialist and interceptor drones to help defend US bases in Jordan, a sign of just how internationalised the kingdom’s defence has become.
A Kingdom Trapped Between Alliances – Iran-US conflict
Jordan’s position is complicated by its close ties with Washington, including a trade deal signed in July, as it seeks to avoid a direct confrontation with Tehran. The war has killed three Jordanian service members and injured dozens, changing the kingdom from a bystander to an active battleground, a role likely to deepen as long as the US continues striking Iran.
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