Four Iranian attacks targeted American troops in Jordan in five days, US officials said, including one on Friday that killed two soldiers and left another missing.
In total, dozens of American servicemen were injured in these attacks, as well as several helicopters were damaged.
The barrage of attacks and the casualties they inflicted indicate that Iranian forces not only still have a sufficient stockpile of missiles, but have also become more adept at evading American air defense systems, American officials said.
The New York Times writes that Jordan, home to major US air bases, has become more important in the run-up to and early days of the war as the Pentagon has moved some troops from Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to safer locations in Jordan and Israel. The country's role in the US operation has only grown as other US allies in the region have limited Washington's ability to deploy troops and conduct airstrikes on their territory, US officials have said.
US officials have provided a brief overview of the last five days of Iranian attacks on Jordan, which the Pentagon has not yet publicly discussed in detail.
The first attack on US troops in Jordan hit a residential compound at King Faisal Air Base, injuring up to five US service members, they said. A second missile hit a base in eastern Jordan where US Black Hawk helicopters were stationed, significantly damaging some of them.
In addition, Iranian missiles hit Jordan's Muwaffak Salt Air Base in Azraq, the same base where US soldiers were killed on Friday.
The previous strike had injured about 20 American soldiers trying to take shelter in bunkers. No one was killed during that attack.
source: commonspace.eu, with The New York Times (New York) and agencies
