Iran Strikes U.S. Bases in Jordan as Interceptor Stocks Drop

Iranian forces launched a series of drone and missile attacks against three U.S. bases in Jordan last month, utilizing Russian-style tactics to evade air defenses. The escalation culminated in a July 17 strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base that killed three U.S. soldiers and wounded more than 100 others.

Donald Trump canceled planned bombing raids against Iran in late July after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar requested a diplomatic approach. Regional leaders expressed concern that Iranian retaliation could target energy infrastructure while U.S. defenses were compromised. The attacks revealed a significant depletion of U.S. munitions, with internal reports showing the Pentagon's stockpile of Patriot interceptors has fallen to fewer than 1,700, as over 1,500 have already been used in the conflict.

The strikes contradict previous assertions by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who had claimed Iran's missile program was "functionally destroyed." Tehran has since resumed firing from underground facilities, employing a combination of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones to deplete American interceptor stocks.