Amman, July 16 (IANS) Jordan’s air defence systems shot down eight Iranian missiles targeting the kingdom early Thursday, a statement issued by the Jordan Armed Forces mentioned.
The interception was carried out in line with approved defensive and operational procedures to safeguard the kingdom’s sovereignty, protect its airspace, and ensure the safety of its citizens, it mentioned.
No casualties or material damage were reported. Royal Engineering Corps teams had dealt with missile debris that fell at several locations and secured the sites in accordance with approved technical and security procedures, the statement added.
It stressed that the Jordan Armed Forces remain at the highest level of readiness as they continue to monitor the kingdom’s airspace and will respond to any threat in accordance with the approved rules of engagement, Xinhua news agency reported.
Meanwhile, the US military conducted a new round of strikes against Iran, US Central Command said early on Thursday (Indian time).
“At 3 pm ET (1900 GMT), US forces launched operations for a second wave of strikes today against Iran,” the command wrote in a post on X. “The strikes are targeting Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels freely transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.”
Earlier on Wednesday (local time), the command said that it had begun launching a wave of strikes against Iran at 6 am Eastern Time (1000 GMT), reports Xinhua news agency.
During the 90-minute wave, the forces launched precision munitions against coastal defence systems and cruise missile storage and launch sites on Greater Tunb Island.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Wednesday that it conducted retaliatory strikes against the US military facilities in Bahrain and Jordan, attacking their military infrastructure, aircraft shelters, key command centres and strategic drones, local media reported.
In a statement, the IRGC said its Aerospace Force targeted the US military base at al-Azraq in Jordan in response to renewed US aggression against Iran. The attack destroyed shelters which have US F-15, F-16, and F-35 fighter jets, and several MQ-9 strategic drones stationed at the base, Iran’s official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.
–IANS
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