Iran attacks US bases in Jordan, Bahrain

Iran conducted missile strikes against US military bases in Jordan and Bahrain on Wednesday, marking a direct escalation in the ongoing conflict. The attacks followed a US retaliatory strike on Iranian air defense and radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz after Iran downed an American Apache helicopter. Jordan’s military reported shooting down five missiles with no casualties, while Bahrain intercepted and destroyed multiple Iranian aerial targets. Kuwait also engaged hostile aerial threats, adding to recent tensions in the region. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for the strikes, framing them as a response to US and Israeli use of Gulf states’ territory for operations against Iran. The foreign ministry reiterated that neighboring countries, particularly those along the Persian Gulf, bear a ‘legal and moral responsibility’ to prevent such actions. The escalation comes amid a fragile ceasefire that has faced repeated violations, including weekend clashes between Iran and Israel. The flare-up drew international concern, with Russia and China urging restraint to avoid further conflict. Russian and Chinese foreign ministry spokespeople called on both sides to de-escalate tensions, warning of broader regional instability. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump had previously claimed negotiations for a lasting settlement were in their ‘final throes,’ though the latest violence casts doubt on those assertions. The conflict has already drawn Lebanon into the fighting, with Iran-backed Hezbollah militants exchanging fire with Israel despite a nominal truce. Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, including attacks on the city of Tyre, have killed at least 11 people, prompting evacuations. The broader war, which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, has destabilized global markets and deepened regional chaos.