Iran launched a new wave of missile strikes against U.S. allies in the Middle East on Thursday in retaliation for U.S. attacks on around 90 Iranian military targets the previous day.
Iran’s state-owned Press TV, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said Iran fired 10 ballistic missiles at what it described as a U.S. command-and-control center in West Asia and Jordan’s al-Azraq Air Base.
“The enemy’s command and control center in West Asia and the al-Azraq airbase in Jordan were crushed with 10 ballistic missiles,” IRGC said. The latest barrage followed earlier Iranian strikes on U.S. targets in Bahrain and Kuwait on Wednesday and Thursday.
At least 5 Iranian ballistic missiles were launched from Northwestern Iran towards Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan a short time ago, which is jointly operated by both the U.S. and Royal Jordanian Air Force. Air defense activity was seen in the sky, with it unknown if any of the… pic.twitter.com/tbqTZmNvPD
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) July 9, 2026
The Iranian attacks were launched in response to U.S. strikes on Wednesday that targeted about 90 military targets near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. According to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the July 8 operation struck air defense systems, coastal surveillance assets, missile and drone storage facilities, naval capabilities, and military logistics infrastructure along Iran’s coastline.
Iranian state media reported Thursday that two military sites in southern Iran had come under attack, but the U.S. and its ally Israel denied carrying out any strikes at the time.
Iran’s IRNA news agency, citing Bushehr province Deputy Governor Ehsan Jahanian, said a military facility near the city of Bushehr was struck by “U.S.-Israeli enemy projectiles.” Separately, state broadcaster IRIB reported that a naval military zone in the southern port city of Konarak had been “attacked by enemy fighter jets in two stages” on Thursday evening.
🚨BREAKING: Reports of powerful explosions in Chabahar and Bushehr provinces, southern Iran 🇮🇷
Multiple blasts reported.. pic.twitter.com/nAAqgj0fyB
— WAR (@warsurv) July 9, 2026
A U.S. official told CNN that the U.S. military was not responsible for the strikes, while Israeli officials said they were “not aware of any Israeli involvement in strikes in Iran at this time.” Separately, a U.S. official told Al Jazeera that American forces had not carried out any strikes in Iran in the preceding several hours
The renewed exchange of strikes between the U.S. and Iran began after Iran attacked three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.
The latest escalation came just weeks after the two countries agreed to halt military operations and begin negotiations toward a final agreement. It also coincides with the funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in earlier U.S.-Israeli strikes.
Iraq’s Ministry of Interior announced that 10 million people participated in the funeral processions for the martyred Ayatollah Khamenei in Najaf and Karbala on July 8.https://t.co/HyqJMTUYS7
— IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) (@iribnews_irib) July 9, 2026
According to U.S. officials who spoke with Axios on Wednesday, the White House is preparing for what could become a multi-day or even multi-week exchange of fire with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz.
The officials said the duration and intensity of the campaign will depend on Iran’s next moves, particularly whether it continues attacking commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. They said the current escalation could last anywhere from one day to a month.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday evening that he does not know whether the U.S. and Iran are heading back into a full-scale war but claimed Tehran “badly” wants to reach a deal to end the escalating hostilities.
“They want to make a deal so badly. I just don’t know if they’re worthy of making a deal. I don’t know that they’re going to honor the deal. That’s the problem,” Trump said.
Earlier Wednesday, Trump said he considered the ceasefire with Iran “over” after Tehran attacked commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. “To me, I think it’s over. I don’t want to deal with them anymore; they’re scum,” Trump said.
