Jordan Intercepts Iranian Missiles Amid US-Saudi Strikes on Iran-Backed Iraqi Militias

Jordan's air defense systems intercepted five missiles fired from Iran. This action occurred just hours after the US military announced it had shot down multiple Iranian missiles targeting American bases in the Middle East, causing a brief ceasefire to falter as the two countries were in negotiations to end the war. The Jordanian military announced that it had shot down and destroyed several missiles. Earlier, the US Central Command had announced that it would maintain a high level of vigilance to prepare for potential attacks. The military added that it had cooperated with Saudi Arabian forces to strike various locations in Iraq used by Iran-backed militias to attack in recent days. After attacking Iraq, the US warned that it would not remain silent if its military bases or Saudi Arabia's energy production facilities were attacked again. There was a brief period of calm between the United States and Iran. Both sides announced that there were no attacks for three days following heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea. Recent weeks of fighting have resulted in the deaths of four American soldiers. The Pentagon is submitting a request to Congress for additional funding for the war. According to US military officials, Iran fired ballistic missiles before the US and Saudi Arabian militaries invaded Iraq. These officials wish to emphasize that these two attacks are unrelated. The US Central Command stated that US and Saudi Arabian fighter jets attacked logistics and weapons depots of groups they described as terrorists in Iraq in response to drone attacks by Iran's forces in the past 72 hours. The command further stated that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and its proxies must stop their attacks if they do not want the US to retaliate. The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense posted on social media acknowledging its participation in the attack, stating that it did not want to cause problems but was prepared to take retaliatory measures if attacked.