DUBAI — Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles toward U.S. forces in the Middle East on Wednesday, the U.S. military said, in what U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) described as an attempted surprise attack that marked a renewed escalation in regional tensions. CENTCOM said all of the missiles were successfully intercepted and reported no immediate casualties or damage.
According to a CENTCOM statement, the missiles were fired by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps at about 5:45 p.m. ET. The U.S. military said its forces remained at a high state of readiness following the attack. It did not immediately specify which U.S. installations were targeted.
Iranian authorities said they had launched ballistic missiles at U.S. military targets in the region, while Jordan's military reported intercepting several missiles that entered its airspace. Independent verification of all claims from the opposing sides was not immediately available.
The missile launch came after U.S. and Saudi forces carried out coordinated strikes against Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq, which Washington said were responsible for attempted attacks on U.S. personnel and Saudi energy infrastructure. U.S. officials said the Iranian missile barrage preceded those operations.
The renewed exchange has heightened concerns over a broader regional conflict and contributed to rising oil prices. Governments across the region continued to monitor the security situation, while officials provided no indication that the immediate military standoff had ended. Authorities said assessments were ongoing, and further details remained subject to verification as the situation continued to develop.
