Iranian Missiles Approach Israel; Tel Aviv Threatens to Respond with Full Force
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have escalated, signaling a potential shift toward all-out war, as Iranian missiles approached Israel after the Jordanian army intercepted several heading toward the coastal area of Aqaba on the Red Sea, near the border with Israel. This comes a day after two US soldiers were killed in a strike on northern Jordan.
In an initial response to the targeting, the Israeli military promptly evacuated US refueling aircraft from Ramon Airport in southern Negev, fearing they would be targeted by Iran. Reports indicated that the US military had deployed approximately 30 such aircraft at Ramon, along with a similar number at Ben Gurion Airport, alongside the urgent recall of fighter jets from US bases in Europe to the region in preparation for expanding operations against Tehran. The Jordanian military confirmed the interception and downing of three Iranian missiles out of four that targeted the kingdom’s territory, while the fourth fell in a remote area in the south, far from populated centers.
The Israeli military stated that it launched two interceptor missiles from the “Iron Dome” system to intercept debris before it fell in the Israeli city of Eilat, which borders Aqaba.
As the missiles neared Israel, Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened that “if Iran attacks us, we will respond with all our might and attack them independently,” referring to not waiting for approval from Washington.
This occurred as the United States launched new airstrikes against Iran for the eighth consecutive day, marking a qualitative development with the targeting of the “Darkhovin” nuclear power plant site in Khuzestan (Ahvaz) province, which began construction in 2022.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that the objective of the strikes was “to secure international navigation by further weakening Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping traffic in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and to deliver a rapid military response to punish the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in retaliation for the attacks launched last night targeting US personnel in Jordan.”
Earlier, CENTCOM revealed that two military personnel were killed on the night of Friday-Saturday, and a third was missing in Jordan during an operation to counter an Iranian attack involving drones and missiles.
Meanwhile, Iran continued its malicious attacks on regional countries, notably Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, and Jordan.
While Kuwaiti air defenses intercepted hostile missiles and drones, Bahraini authorities sounded air raid sirens across the country yesterday morning for the seventh time in less than 48 hours, as they intercepted several treacherous Iranian aerial attacks.
Coinciding with the collapse of the ceasefire and the understanding between Islamabad and Tehran, Trump warned of the possibility of the region sliding into a wider conflict if Iran is not deterred.
On the other side, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the treacherous attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain, and other countries. Ali Abdullahi, commander of the Central “Seal of the Prophets” Headquarters, threatened that his country’s forces “will respond to any brutality with a devastating and overwhelming retaliation,” while an IRGC official claimed that his country “is still exercising restraint.”
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have escalated, signaling a potential shift toward all-out war, as Iranian missiles approached Israel after the Jordanian army intercepted Iranian missiles heading toward the coastal area of Aqaba on the Red Sea, near the border with Israel, a day after two US soldiers were killed and a third was missing in a strike on northern Jordan.
In an initial response to the targeting, the Israeli military promptly evacuated US refueling aircraft from Ramon Airport in southern Negev, fearing they would be targeted by Iran.
Reports indicated that the US military deployed approximately 30 aerial refueling tankers to Ramon Airport, along with similar numbers at Ben Gurion Airport, alongside the urgent recall of fighter jets from US bases in Europe to the region in preparation for expanding operations against Tehran.
The Jordanian military confirmed intercepting and shooting down three of four Iranian missiles that targeted the kingdom’s territory, while the fourth missile fell in a remote area in the south of the kingdom, far from residential clusters.
The Israeli military stated it fired two interceptors from the Iron Dome system to neutralize fragments before they fell in the Israeli city of Eilat, which borders Aqaba.
As the missiles approached Israel, Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened that “if Iran attacks us, we will respond and attack them independently,” signaling that Israel would not wait for approval from Washington.
Prior to the announcement regarding the interception of the missiles, Jordanian government spokesperson Mohammed Al-Momani denied that his country’s authorities had issued any orders to evacuate Aqaba International Airport or the city’s port. He noted that both facilities were operating normally, following an unprecedented warning from the US Embassy that cited a “specific and credible threat” and advised US citizens to avoid the sites.
This development occurred as the United States launched new airstrikes against Iran for the eighth consecutive day. The strikes marked a qualitative shift, targeting the Darakhein nuclear facility in the Khuzestan (Ahvaz) province, construction of which began in 2022.
The US stated that the objective of the strikes was “to secure international navigation by further weakening Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping traffic in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and to deliver a rapid military response to punish the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps in retaliation for last night’s attacks targeting US personnel in Jordan.”
The US military targeted a site near Shadegan in southwestern Iran. Several explosions were heard in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, and the city of Sirik, with no reports of casualties, injuries, or infrastructure damage.
Earlier, CENTCOM revealed that two soldiers were killed on the night of Friday-Saturday and a third soldier went missing in Jordan during an operation to counter an Iranian attack involving drones and missiles. This raised the number of US military fatalities since the war began on February 28 to 16, with more than 420 others injured.
Meanwhile, Iran continued its malicious attacks on regional countries, notably Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, and Jordan.
While Kuwaiti air defenses intercepted hostile missiles and drones, Bahraini authorities sounded air raid sirens across the country yesterday morning for the seventh time in less than 48 hours, as they intercepted several treacherous Iranian aerial attacks.
Coinciding with the collapse of the ceasefire and the breakdown of understandings with Islamabad, Trump warned of the possibility of the region descending into a wider conflict if Iran is not deterred.
In statements to the *New York Post*, he described the killing of the two US soldiers as regrettable but emphasized that the military mission remained necessary.
He stressed that the primary objective of the current military campaign was to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Trump also expressed indifference to the announcement by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, that Iran would not adhere to the memorandum of understanding previously signed between the two countries with Qatari-Pakistani mediation.
In a move reflecting Washington’s shift toward hardline policies, Trump urged Republican members of Congress to include Iran under the stringent sanctions regime imposed on Russia.
On the other side, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) condemned the “treacherous attacks” on Kuwait, Bahrain, and other countries, while Commander of the Central “Seal of the Prophets” Headquarters, Lieutenant General Ali Abdollahi, warned U.S. forces that “our country’s forces will respond to any brutality with a devastating and overwhelming counterstrike.” Meanwhile, an IRGC official claimed that Iran “is still exercising restraint.”
The IRGC alleged that two ships attempting to exit through an unsafe route in Hormuz had been involved in an incident, referring to the southern passage opposite the coast of the Sultanate of Oman, reiterating its threat that not a single drop of oil, gas, or chemical fertilizers would pass through the strait without prior coordination and approval.
Meanwhile, regional diplomatic efforts intensified to contain the crisis. Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad met with Iraq’s new Prime Minister Ali al-Allawi, who visited Doha yesterday on his second foreign trip after a notable visit to Washington, where he met with President Trump.
Both Qatari and Iraqi sides emphasized “the necessity for all parties to commit to dialogue and diplomacy, and to implement what was agreed upon under the memorandum of understanding between the United States and the Islamic Republic, including ensuring freedom of navigation in Hormuz and enhancing regional stability.”
As al-Allawi prepares for a visit to Tehran later this week, Qatari Emir Tamim, whose country plays a pivotal role in mediating between Tehran and Washington, received Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and discussed diplomatic efforts and joint coordination to de-escalate tensions and enhance security and stability in the region.
