Over the course of several weeks in mid-2025, Iran conducted a series of coordinated missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. military forces deployed across key bases in the Middle East. These assaults, notably focusing on installations in Jordan, tested the resilience of American air defenses and highlighted evolving tactics on both sides of the conflict.
From early July into mid-month, Iranian forces launched multiple waves of attacks against U.S. positions, including Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Azraq, Jordan. The base has become a strategic hub for U.S. operations following the relocation of personnel from locations closer to Iran, such as Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar, in efforts to reduce vulnerability to aerial assaults. Despite robust Patriot missile defense systems intercepting the majority of incoming projectiles, on July 17 a missile penetrated these defenses and struck prefabricated housing units, resulting in the deaths of three American soldiers and injuring over 100 others. Additional damage to aircraft was also reported.
U.S. military officials acknowledged these strikes reflect a significant adaptation in Iranian military tactics. Iran’s deployment of advanced missiles capable of evasive maneuvers, combined with swarm drone tactics, has been informed in part by observing conflicts such as Russia’s assault in Ukraine, where ballistic and cruise missiles are used to overwhelm defense systems. Experts note that Iran’s integration of these methods has intensified the challenge for U.S. forces to defend multiple sites simultaneously across the region.
The ongoing conflict has markedly strained U.S. interceptor missile inventories. Official assessments indicate that over 1,500 Patriot interceptors have been expended, leaving fewer than 1,700 remaining. Production rates of new interceptors remain limited, with approximately 600 units expected to be manufactured in 2025. While Pentagon leadership has publicly downplayed concerns regarding munitions shortages, insisting that assertions of shortfalls are unfounded, some defense analysts express concern that the depletion of interceptors could constrain U.S. response capabilities as hostilities continue.
The broader implications of these developments have prompted diplomatic reconsiderations. In late July, following consultations with Gulf leaders including Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman, President Donald Trump halted plans for further airstrikes against Iran. Saudi officials conveyed apprehension that escalation might provoke retaliatory strikes targeting critical energy infrastructure within the kingdom and neighboring states, further destabilizing the region.
The Iranian military’s approach has not only involved long-range missile barrages but also precision strikes, such as the downing of a U.S. F-15E fighter jet over southern Iran in April using a shoulder-fired missile. U.S. commanders believe Iranian forces exploited drone technology to acquire vital targeting data, including GPS coordinates, speed, and direction, demonstrating a sophisticated, multi-asset engagement strategy.
Meanwhile, international observers report that Iran continues to safeguard key military and nuclear assets within heavily fortified underground facilities, complicating efforts to counter its capabilities effectively. The dynamics of the conflict, including Iran’s deployment of allied militias like the Houthis in Yemen to broaden the battlefield, suggest a prolonged struggle characterized by asymmetric warfare tactics.
As the war endures beyond its initial phase, U.S. military and intelligence agencies continue to adapt to Iran’s evolving tactics, drawing on lessons from other global conflicts while seeking to manage resource limitations and geopolitical pressures in the region.