Iran launched a surprise ballistic missile attack on a U.S. base in Jordan on Tuesday evening, U.S. Central Command confirmed. U.S. forces successfully intercepted all incoming missiles.
The attack occurred at approximately 5:45 p.m. ET and involved missiles fired by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. U.S. forces stated they remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness following the engagement.
This event follows a period of de-escalation between the United States and Iran, with neither side announcing attacks for several days after weeks of heightened tensions over the Strait of Hormuz. The vital Persian Gulf waterway, through which approximately 20 percent of the world's oil normally flows, had been effectively disrupted by Iran earlier in the conflict.
Following the signing of an interim ceasefire deal in June, a contest for control over the strait intensified. Iran had previously demanded that ships divert to a route near its coastline, suggesting potential fees, while ships increasingly navigated a southern route off the coast of Oman under U.S. surveillance.
Tuesday's missile launch occurred on the same day that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Donald Trump at the White House. The meeting, described as "positive and productive" by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, was their first since launching a joint operation against Iran and aimed to address strains in their relationship amidst growing anxiety over potential Israeli actions to broaden the conflict.