"Seek overhead cover and shelter in place immediately," the U.S. Embassy in Jordan warned on the morning of July 9, 2026, as reports said missiles, drones or rockets were in Jordanian airspace.
U.S. Embassy in Jordan: shelter-in-place warning
The embassy tweeted an alert advising Americans in Jordan to "seek overhead cover and shelter in place immediately," remain indoors and follow local announcements. The warning followed reports of airborne threats in Jordanian airspace and came as fighting between U.S. and Iranian forces entered a third day after Iran attacked three ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.
Jordan Armed Forces: intercepted eight missiles launched from Iran
The Jordan Armed Forces‑Arab Army (JAF) General Command said its air defense systems "intercepted and shot down eight missiles launched from Iran toward Jordanian territory on Thursday." The command said debris fell as a result of interception operations but that there were no casualties or property damage. JAF stated it is monitoring developments closely, remains at the highest level of operational readiness and "will not allow any party to violate Jordanian airspace under any circumstances."
Separately, the IRGC‑connected Tasnim media outlet claimed multiple explosions at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan and said Iranian forces targeted American ships off Bahrain with cruise missiles. The report did not include visual proof. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) declined to provide additional operational details about those claims.
Muwaffaq Salti was described in the reporting as a long‑used regional hub for U.S. operations that "hosts the greatest concentration of U.S. tactical aircraft in the region" and is "being very actively utilized in the current conflict," making it a high‑value target where a single ballistic missile could inflict concentrated losses.
U.S. Central Command: strikes on approximately 90 Iranian military targets
CENTCOM said U.S. forces struck "approximately 90 Iranian military targets" along Iran’s coastline, naming air defense systems, coastal surveillance assets, missile and drone storage sites, naval capabilities and military logistics infrastructure among the targets. The command framed the strikes as a continuation of offensive operations described as following "successful execution of offensive strikes in Iran the night before."
President Donald Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One after the NATO Summit in Ankara, said Iran had called seeking a deal and that "they want to make a deal so badly — I just don't know if they're worthy of making a deal." He added, "We hit them very hard last night — very, very hard — and we'll probably hit them hard again tonight," and used the epithet "cuckoo" in reference to Iranian leaders, according to recorded remarks reported by news outlets.
Iranian media claims: Bushehr perimeter, rail bridges, and unexplained explosions
Iranian state and semi‑official outlets reported several different incidents inside Iran. The Jerusalem Post, citing the deputy governor of Bushehr Province, reported that "a U.S. projectile hit the perimeter area" of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which the report said had been struck several times earlier in the current conflict prior to the April 8 ceasefire. Iranian IRIB reported that rail passengers stranded after an alleged strike on the Tehran‑Mashhad line chanted slogans. Independent reports and eyewitness video circulated that showed damage to the Aq Tekeh Khan (also spelled Aq Taqeh Khan) bridge in Golestan province, a rail link to Central Asia that some accounts described as important for trade during a paused U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Later updates amplified ambiguity on the origin of explosions. The Mehr news outlet reported explosions in Bandar Abbas, Bushehr and Choghadak; CENTCOM declined to comment on that report. A U.S. official told the Jerusalem Post that explosions in Iran were not U.S. airstrikes. The Iranian IRNA news agency said the source of explosions could be the armed forces' air defenses, enemy fire or a downed drone, and that no final conclusion had been reached.
What this means for U.S. forces, Jordan, and regional shipping
- U.S. forces: CENTCOM’s account of strikes on dozens of coastal and logistical targets, and reporting that Muwaffaq Salti hosts a high concentration of U.S. tactical aircraft, underscores a continued operational tempo and vulnerability of forward bases cited in the coverage.
- Jordan: JAF’s interception of eight missiles and the embassy's public shelter‑in‑place advisory show Jordanian air defenses and civil authorities actively responding to spillover threats and prioritizing protection of civilians and sovereign airspace.
- Regional shipping and logistics: The flare‑up was sparked by Iran's attack on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a point repeatedly referenced as the conflict's flashpoint; reports of damage to rail bridges and disrupted rail service raise potential consequences for overland trade links cited in the reporting.
The diplomatic picture remains unsettled. The two sides had signed a 14‑point Memorandum of Understanding on June 17 that provided a 60‑day ceasefire extension to negotiate a broader settlement, but both sides declared that ceasefire over on Wednesday, and operations have resumed on multiple fronts. With missile interceptions over Jordan, CENTCOM’s description of widespread strikes, Iranian claims of strikes and bridge damage, and public statements from the president contending Iran both seeks a deal and remains untrustworthy, the reporting leaves the principal question blunt: will the June 17 framework survive, or will military operations continue to drive the terms?
