Iran said it struck U.S. military bases and targets in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates in retaliation for an American attack.
The escalation marks a direct military confrontation between the two nations, raising the risk of a wider regional conflict in the Middle East.
The retaliatory strikes followed a U.S. operation on Sunday, July 11, 2026, where American forces struck two Iranian launchers [1] on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said its counter-attacks occurred on July 12 and 13 [2].
In Jordan, the national army intercepted eight missiles [3] launched by Iran. The Iranian government said the operations targeted U.S. military installations across Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates [4].
Casualties have been reported amid the ongoing fighting. Three U.S. troops died [5] during the conflict.
Larak Island is a strategic point in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil shipments. The U.S. strike on the launchers there served as the catalyst for the subsequent Iranian missile launches against U.S. assets in neighboring Arab states [4].
U.S. and Iranian officials have not provided further details on the extent of the damage to the bases in Jordan and the UAE. The strikes underscore the volatility of the current military standoff—a situation that has seen repeated cycles of attack and retaliation.
“Iran said it struck U.S. military bases and targets in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.”
This cycle of retaliation demonstrates a shift toward direct kinetic engagement between the U.S. and Iran. By targeting installations in Jordan and the UAE, Iran is signaling its ability to project power across multiple allied territories in response to strikes within its own borders, potentially complicating the security arrangements the U.S. maintains with its Gulf partners.
