Jordan’s Increasing Role in U.S. Operations Against Iran

Recent developments have placed Jordan at the center of U.S. military operations against Iran. Iran’s attacks on Jordan, including a recent incident that resulted in the death of two U.S. servicemen, underscore a growing complexity in the ongoing conflict.

Analysts point to Jordan’s expanding role in U.S. military strategies as the reason behind the increased Iranian aggression. Historically, the U.S. and Jordan have collaborated extensively in military, intelligence, and counterterrorism efforts. Jordan hosts several significant U.S. air bases.

As tensions with Iran intensified, the Pentagon moved troops from Gulf nations like Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar to locations deemed more secure in Jordan and Israel. This shift occurred as other allies restricted U.S. military operations within their borders and airspace.

Unlike its Gulf counterparts, Jordan depends heavily on U.S. foreign aid, limiting its ability to counter U.S. directives. Omid Memarian, an analyst at the Washington-based DAWN think tank, noted the reluctance of Gulf countries to allow the U.S. to stage attacks on Iran from their territories. Meanwhile, Jordan, bound by a security agreement with the U.S., lacks the leverage to refuse.

The situation reached a critical point when Jordan evacuated the international airport and seaport in Aqaba due to a credible threat. Jordanian air defenses intercepted three Iranian missiles, with a fourth missile landing in an unpopulated area.