Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched long-range missile attacks against the U.S. Al-Azraq air base in Jordan on June 10, 2024 [1].
The escalation marks a direct military response to U.S. strikes on Iranian sites. These previous American operations followed the downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz [2].
The IRGC Aerospace Force utilized long-range solid-fuel missiles during the operation [3]. According to a statement from the IRGC, the missiles struck and destroyed four important targets [3]. These targets specifically included hangars housing F-35 fighter jets [1].
Reports on the location of the strike vary slightly between sources. Some accounts identify the site as the U.S. Al-Azraq base [2], while others refer to it as Jordan's Prince Hassan Air Base [4].
While the IRGC maintains that the targets were destroyed, other reports indicate a lack of independent verification regarding the actual damage sustained at the facility [5]. The IRGC spokesperson said, "The IRGC Aerospace Force, using long-range solid-fuel missiles, struck and destroyed four important targets, including F-35 fighter jet hangars" [3].
This cycle of retaliation underscores the volatile security environment in the region. The use of long-range missiles to target high-value assets like the F-35 indicates an attempt by Tehran to demonstrate its reach and capabilities against U.S. infrastructure in the Middle East [2].
“The IRGC Aerospace Force... struck and destroyed four important targets, including F-35 fighter jet hangars.”
The attack represents a calculated escalation by Iran to establish a pattern of proportional response. By targeting F-35 hangars, the IRGC is signaling that it can threaten the most advanced U.S. aerial capabilities in the region. This creates a precarious security loop where the downing of a single aircraft can lead to strategic missile strikes on sovereign allies like Jordan, increasing the risk of a broader regional conflict.
