Jordan Reports Interception of Iranian Missiles
On Wednesday, Jordanian armed forces announced they intercepted and shot down five missiles launched toward the al-Azraq area in Jordan. The military confirmed that debris from the interception fell on Jordanian territory but caused no injuries or material damage.
Earlier, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards stated they had launched missile attacks targeting an airbase in Jordan that hosts US forces, as well as strikes on Kuwait and Bahrain. The missiles targeted the Muwaffaq Salti airbase, known to house US F-35 fighter jets and other aircraft.
Following the US strikes on Iran, Asian share markets declined and oil prices increased.
Escalating tensions in the Middle East have unsettled financial markets, reducing optimism for a resolution to the months-long conflict that has driven commodity prices higher and increased inflation concerns.
Japan’s Nikkei index fell by 0.9%, while South Korea’s tech-heavy KOSPI dropped 2%.
Oil prices rose approximately 1% in early trading, rebounding from a seven-week low reached in the previous session. Brent crude futures increased 0.9% to $92.29 per barrel, and US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 0.8% to $88.97.
“Oil holding around $90 despite fresh Iran headlines suggests markets are not pricing a sustained supply disruption. That leaves room for a bigger repricing if energy infrastructure, shipping routes or U.S. involvement escalate,”said Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo in Singapore.
US investors are awaiting inflation data scheduled for release later on Wednesday. The report, covering the 12 months through May, will assess the war’s impact. A survey of economists predicts inflation likely increased by 4.2% during this period.
Opening Summary
Welcome to our live coverage of the Middle East crisis.
Iran has announced missile attacks on a Jordanian airbase hosting US forces, as well as strikes on Kuwait and Bahrain. The Revolutionary Guards stated that missiles targeted the Muwaffaq Salti airbase, which is known to host US F-35 fighter jets and other aircraft.
Neither Jordan nor the US has confirmed any attacks. If verified, this would mark the first time Iran has targeted Jordan since the ceasefire began in April.
The US launched multiple waves of strikes on Iran following the downing of a US Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz, from which two crew members were rescued in stable condition. Former President Donald Trump stated on social media that the US “must” respond to the helicopter crash.
The Associated Press reported that the Apache helicopter crashed after colliding with an Iranian drone, though it remains unclear whether the collision was intentional.
US strikes were conducted along Iran’s southern coast near the Strait of Hormuz. After over three hours of military action, US Central Command (Centcom) announced that the strikes were “completed” and affirmed that the US remains prepared to defend against “unjustified Iranian aggression.”
Shortly after, Iran launched retaliatory attacks against US targets, according to Iranian state media. These attacks reportedly involved drones targeting American bases in the region and the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. Kuwait and Bahrain issued air raid alerts and reported active air defenses repelling attacks. Iran also claimed to have targeted a US base in Jordan with long-range missiles.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that no attack would go “unanswered” following the US strikes on Iran. Posting an image of the Strait of Hormuz labeled “Forever Persian Gulf,” Araghchi said,
“despite its defeats on the battlefield, the U.S. opted to test our determination.”
Five hours before the airstrikes, Trump posted on social media that the US “must” respond to the helicopter crash, from which two crew members were rescued in stable condition. However, prior to this post, Trump had downplayed the crash in a phone interview with the Wall Street Journal, stating it “wasn’t a big deal” and that “the pilot is fine.”
Iranian state media reported, according to , that no air military operations have occurred in the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours.
Separately, Lebanon’s health ministry reported that 11 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on the southern city of Tyre on Tuesday. The state-run National News Agency (NNA) had reported the first strike shortly before Israel’s military issued an evacuation warning for the entire city and surrounding areas ahead of further strikes.
