Jordan faces growing risk of becoming latest frontline state in US-Iran conflict
Iranian missiles targeted Jordan again on Tuesday, as the kingdom struggles to balance its close alliance with the US against mounting Iranian attacks and domestic discontent.
Air raid sirens sounded in parts of Jordan early Tuesday as Iranian missiles struck the kingdom. The army reported that its air defense intercepted and downed three missiles that entered Jordanian airspace from Iran. No casualties were reported. This follows a series of attacks that have heightened tensions for one of America's closest Arab allies. Last week, an Iranian missile strike on a US base in Jordan killed two US service members and wounded about 30 others.
Jordan is among eight Arab countries hosting permanent US military facilities. Since the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran in late February, Gulf states have also faced Iranian attacks. Iran fired missiles at Jordan shortly after, then a lull followed. Jordan has been intercepting Iranian missiles aimed at Israel, arguing it is defending its own airspace.
Experts note that Iran has reserved the right to retaliate against any state in the region hosting US military assets. Jordan's options are limited due to its heavy military and economic dependence on Washington. The US is Jordan's largest foreign backer; under a 2022 Memorandum of Understanding, Washington provides $1.45 billion annually in economic and military aid, increased to $1.65 billion in 2025 (triple the 2010 amount). A Defense Cooperation Agreement signed in January 2021 formalizes US access to Jordanian military facilities. Currently, 4,000 US troops are stationed in Jordan, more than in previous years.
On Sunday, Jordan summoned Iran's top diplomat in Amman to demand an end to what it called 'unjustified and blatant Iranian attacks.' However, public sentiment is wary of the US presence. A 2026 poll found only 12% of Jordanians view US President Donald Trump's foreign policy favorably. Analysts warn that Iran's attacks could also place Jordan in the same camp as Israel, fueling protests similar to those during the Gaza war, when demonstrators called for ending the 1994 peace treaty with Israel.
Jordan has been a vocal advocate for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Over half the population, including Queen Rania, has Palestinian roots. The country hosts about 2.4 million Palestinian refugees and has repeatedly rejected further displacement. Meanwhile, settler violence in the West Bank has displaced more than 1,000 Palestinian children in the first half of 2026 alone, half the total of the previous three years. Jordan is caught between a rock and a hard place, with little room to maneuver toward Israel, Iran, or Washington.
