On 17 July, three Iranian ballistic missiles evaded US and Jordanian air defence systems to strike Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, killing three American service members and wounding dozens more. The missiles hit a gym, an empty hangar, and prefabricated housing units where troops were sleeping, according to US officials cited by The Wall Street Journal. The attack was part of a 24-hour barrage of three separate salvos, and it brought the number of US personnel injured in Iranian strikes across the Middle East this month to nearly 100, the Pentagon confirmed.

Viewed from Washington, the penetrations have triggered a debate over force protection. President Donald Trump, speaking at the White House, suggested that “other operators” at the base had failed to intercept the missiles, without providing details. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the deadly strike as a case of “one leaked through,” but military analysts in the region note that multiple successful impacts in a short period indicate a systemic challenge rather than an isolated failure. The Pentagon stated that 96 per cent of those wounded in recent attacks have returned to duty, with most injuries classified as minor concussions.

Tehran, for its part, has accused Washington of violating a 18 June memorandum of understanding that had paused hostilities. According to Iranian state media, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned of “unforgettable lessons” if US strikes continue. A retired Jordanian general, Lt. Gen. Qasid Mahmoud, told CBS News that Iran is employing more sophisticated tactics: it launches simple missiles to distract radar systems, then fires higher-quality projectiles that alter their trajectory in the final 30 to 40 kilometres, making interception harder. This evolution, he said, is combining with drone swarms to overwhelm layered defences.

The broader conflict erupted on 28 February and has since drawn in US bases in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. The June ceasefire collapsed after Washington launched new strikes on 8 July, citing Iranian threats to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliated by targeting American positions, and on 9 July Trump declared the truce void. With an estimated 50,000 US troops stationed across the region, military planners in Washington and allied capitals are reassessing the adequacy of existing air defence architectures. No new diplomatic track has been announced, and both sides continue to exchange fire.