Jordan's patience with Iran is over

The Jordan Armed Forces announced Wednesday that the Royal Jordanian Air Force successfully intercepted a missile launched from Iran and two drones that had targeted Jordanian territory, in operations carried out over the preceding 24 hours.

The Military Media Directorate at the General Command of the Jordan Armed Forces confirmed the interceptions in a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency (Petra), underlining the readiness of Jordan's air defences to respond to threats originating from Iranian territory.

On the ground, the Public Security Directorate reported that relevant units responded to six separate incidents involving falling shrapnel and projectiles over the same 24-hour period. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were recorded as a result of these incidents, though some material damage was sustained.

Amman has consistently sought to maintain a careful balancing act in the region. But as Iranian missiles and drones increasingly penetrate Jordanian airspace, that neutrality is being tested in real time, and Jordan's air force is being called upon to defend it.

King Abdullah did not wait for these latest strikes to condemn Iran and warn against any violation of his country's sovereignty. Relations between the kingdom and Tehran were never particularly warm. They have now become utterly toxic.