Iran Claims Jordanian Soldiers Helped Target US Forces in Deadly Attack

The recent deadly Iranian attack on US forces in Jordan has taken a provocative turn as Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) alleges that Jordanian residents and soldiers provided precise intelligence that helped guide missiles and drones to US military sites. The attack occurred last Friday during a wave of Iranian strikes against American targets in the region, focusing on the Muwaffaq al-Salti Air Base near Azraq, east of Amman, where US troops and aircraft are stationed under a security cooperation agreement.

According to the US Central Command, two American soldiers were killed, one remains missing, and four others were injured and treated in Jordanian hospitals before being released. Additional human remains were found at the site, but their identities are unknown. The IRGC claimed the attack destroyed logistical facilities and buildings housing US forces, and Iranian state media asserted at least two US fighter jets and three other aircraft were destroyed, though these claims lack independent verification.

In a statement released Monday, the IRGC directly thanked Jordanian civilians and soldiers for their cooperation and precise information, which they said enabled the destruction of 20 buildings housing US troops at the Azraq base. Iran also claimed dozens of US soldiers were killed, a figure that contradicts the US military's official casualty report. Reuters noted that the attack raised the total number of US military deaths in the conflict to 16, with over 420 wounded.

No evidence has been presented to confirm that Jordanian soldiers provided intelligence to Iran. Analysts suggest the Iranian statement may aim to sow distrust within the Jordanian military and strain Amman-Washington relations amid Jordanian outrage over Iranian attacks on its territory. Jordan is a close US ally in the Middle East, hosting American forces at 15 bases under a 2021 agreement. Recently, Jordan intercepted Iranian missiles launched toward its territory and summoned the Iranian embassy official to protest, emphasizing it will not tolerate violations of its sovereignty or use of its land as a battleground between Tehran and Washington.