Jordan Becomes Key Safe Haven for US Amid Rising Iranian Attacks

Jordan has increasingly become a critical safe zone for the United States amid escalating Iranian missile attacks, according to a Jordanian source speaking to ynet on Sunday. Despite four Iranian missiles launched at Aqaba near Eilat, Jordanian airports and seaports continue normal operations, and daily life remains unaffected. The Jordanian Foreign Ministry lodged a formal protest with Iran's embassy over the attacks and Iranian officials' hostile statements.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards have been attempting to stir anti-government sentiment within Jordan, urging citizens to oppose the US military presence, which Iran blames for Muslim casualties across several countries. Experts told The New York Times that Jordan's growing role in US military operations against Iran explains the increased Iranian aggression. Several US bases in Jordan support intelligence and counterterrorism cooperation, with Washington relying more on Jordan as Gulf states restrict US military deployments following Iranian strikes.

Unlike wealthier Gulf countries, Jordan depends heavily on US aid and cannot easily refuse Washington's requests. A Washington-based Middle East expert noted Gulf states like Saudi Arabia are now more hesitant to allow extensive US military use of their bases, while Jordan's security agreement with the US gives Washington a dominant position.

On Friday, two American soldiers were killed and another went missing in an Iranian attack on a Jordanian base, marking the fourth such assault in a week that injured dozens of US troops and damaged helicopters. The US military has operated from Jordanian airbases for years, with nearly 4,000 troops stationed there. US economic and military aid to Jordan, initiated in the 1950s, has tripled over the past 15 years, reaching approximately $33.8 billion in 2025.