Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has publicly expressed gratitude toward Jordanian civilians and military personnel for providing precise intelligence that enabled ballistic missile strikes on US military assets in Jordan. According to RT, the IRGC revealed these claims in a statement issued Monday.

The IRGC asserted that recent missile attacks targeted US C-17 transport aircraft and P-8 command planes at Aqaba Airport in southern Jordan, reportedly causing significant damage to several aircraft. This marks the latest in a series of retaliatory strikes by Iran against American forces stationed in the region.

In addition, the IRGC credited Jordanian informants with assisting in the destruction of 20 hangars housing US personnel and equipment in the Al-Azraq area during an earlier assault. The statement alleged that dozens of American service members were killed, raising concerns about the security of US bases even within allied territories.

Expressing appreciation, the IRGC thanked the “honorable people and courageous military personnel of Jordan” for their “sincere cooperation and precise information,” which it said was instrumental in identifying US military targets accurately. The release concluded with a call urging Muslims to attack US forces wherever they are found, accusing the United States of invading over ten Muslim-majority countries and supporting “Zionist” military operations in Gaza and the West Bank.

The US has acknowledged an Iranian missile strike on one of its military facilities in Jordan on Friday, which resulted in two American fatalities, one service member missing, and several others wounded. However, Washington has not verified the extent of damage to aircraft at Aqaba Airport nor confirmed the casualty figures claimed by Tehran.

Iran has a history of asserting that its strikes have destroyed US aircraft and equipment in Jordan, while US media outlets report multiple days of attacks have injured dozens of service members and damaged helicopters. US defense officials, cited by the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, have expressed concern that Iranian missiles are increasingly capable of evading American air defenses due to their speed and maneuverability.

Prior to these escalations, the Pentagon reportedly shifted some troops and aircraft from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to bases in Jordan and Israel, which are considered less vulnerable due to their greater distance from Iran.

Since the collapse of a brief ceasefire earlier this month, Tehran has launched near-daily missile and drone attacks on US military installations across Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Iraq, and Syria. These actions are framed as retaliation for what Iran describes as an unprovoked US-Israeli war against it.

Why this matters

This development highlights the increasing complexity and regional reach of the conflict between Iran and US forces in the Middle East. The involvement of local Jordanian intelligence, if verified, indicates shifting dynamics that could affect the security of US military bases in allied countries. Additionally, the growing effectiveness of Iranian missile technology poses new challenges for American defense strategies in the region.

As tensions continue to escalate, the stability of US operations in key Middle Eastern countries may be further jeopardized, potentially impacting broader geopolitical relations and military planning.