Jordan Endures Iranian Missile Strikes Amid Strategic US Alliance

Jordan has been enduring missile and drone attacks from Iran in recent months, a situation that has intensified recently. Despite these repeated assaults, the Hashemite Kingdom has largely remained silent and has not retaliated, a stark contrast to other regional actors. This policy of restraint is largely attributed to Jordan's strategic alliance with the United States, which maintains military forces on Jordanian territory.

This alliance is crucial for Jordan's security, particularly in the face of Iranian efforts to destabilize the region. Jordanian elites view Iran's support for Shiite militias in Iraq, armed Palestinian groups, and Syrian drug traffickers as a direct threat to the monarchy. The 2021 security cooperation agreement between the US and Jordan grants American forces access to twelve military facilities across the kingdom, underscoring the depth of their partnership.

Jordanian officials, including Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, have recently broken their silence, condemning Iranian attacks and emphasizing the kingdom's commitment to its alliance with Washington. Safadi stated that Iran had been attacking Jordan and other regional nations long before the current conflict, despite Jordan's efforts to prevent escalation. He also highlighted that the presence of US forces is governed by a security agreement, with forces stationed on Jordanian bases and collaborating with the Jordanian military.

Despite Jordan's desire for good relations with Iran, it insists that Tehran must address the root causes of tension, such as arms and drug smuggling and attempts to undermine Jordan's stability. The kingdom asserts its sovereign right to take necessary measures to protect its security and citizens. This shift in rhetoric comes as Jordan has recently acknowledged intercepting Iranian projectiles within its airspace, with reports of ballistic missiles being shot down.

Iranian officials have responded critically to Jordan's stance, questioning how long Iran should wait before responding to aggressors and suggesting that Jordanian airspace has been used for attacks that resulted in Iranian casualties. The article notes that while most Iranian projectiles targeting Jordan have been intercepted by US air defense systems, the kingdom's strategic location makes it a potential target, not just for its American allies but also for its own leadership.