When an Iranian missile hits its intended target, it means that the U.S. air defense system either failed to intercept it or didn't even detect the missile in the first place. But if this happens more than once—as was the case in Jordan over the past week—it can no longer be called a "missed opportunity," but a problem facing the United States.
Last week, Iranian precision-guided weapons evaded both Jordanian and U.S. missile defense systems, successfully hitting their targets, and this happened twice in a row.
When asked why Iran was able to use missiles to attack U.S. bases in Jordan last week, President Trump suggested in a White House speech on Tuesday that there were "other operators" at the Jordanian bases, causing "something to slip through." Trump did not elaborate on who these "other operators" were or what role they played in protecting U.S. forces in Jordan. The U.S. Department of Defense acknowledged on Monday that nearly 100 U.S. personnel have been injured this month alone after Iranian attacks on various bases in the Middle East. This figure does not include the recent attacks in Jordan.
A senior regional military analyst said that Iran's increased capabilities are partly responsible for the increase in U.S. casualties. "Iran possesses advanced missile technology," said Qasid Mahmoud, a retired Jordanian lieutenant general who previously served as deputy chief of staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces. "They are developing technologies and capabilities to extend their strike range and are combining this with drone operations to suppress radar defense systems." He added, "Iran will use some simple missiles to jam radar, and then launch more advanced missiles that will change their trajectory towards the final target within the last 30 to 40 kilometers." He said this change in flight path increases the difficulty of intercepting the missiles.
