Jordan’s position within the regional conflict has shifted

For most of this year’s Iran war, Jordan’s role has been that of an interceptor rather than a target. As it did in April 2024, when it shot down Iranian drones and missiles crossing its airspace toward Israel, the kingdom spent the early months of the conflict defending its skies alongside American forces. However, this changed last week, when an Iranian ballistic missile and drone attack on a base in Jordan killed two US service members, with a third reported missing and now also believed to be dead.