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U.S. Air Force F-35A stealth fighter jets. / AFP-Yonhap

Iran claimed it attacked U.S. military bases in Jordan and Kuwait in retaliation for a U.S. strike, while U.S. Central Command denied the claims, sharply escalating tensions in the Middle East.

According to Reuters and other outlets on the 30th (local time), Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it struck Jordan's Al Azraq Air Base with ballistic missiles.

In a statement, the IRGC claimed it "completely destroyed three F-35 fighter jets and seriously damaged three others," and also "destroyed drone hangars and jet fuel storage facilities." It further claimed that some U.S. military officers and maintenance personnel were killed.

The IRGC also claimed it attacked the U.S.-hosted Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait.

The IRGC said the strikes were "a response to the U.S. attack on Iran's Qeshm Island," and warned it would "continue attacks on U.S. military infrastructure until the U.S. is completely expelled from the region."

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) immediately pushed back. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), CENTCOM said, "No U.S. aircraft were destroyed or damaged in Iran's attempted attack," adding that "all missiles and drones were either intercepted or failed to reach their targets."

CENTCOM also denied claims by Iranian state media that a tanker blockade line had been broken, stressing that the blockade in the Gulf region remains fully in effect.

Jordan and Kuwait also issued statements contradicting Iran's claims. The Jordanian military said its air defenses shot down five Iranian missiles fired toward its territory, with no casualties from the attack.

Kuwait's Ministry of Defense said, "The confirmed damage in Kuwait was not to a U.S. military base but to a Chinese company's building in the northern region," adding that one worker was killed and the building sustained serious damage.

Iran's claims have drawn skepticism partly because no satellite imagery or footage has emerged so far to support damage at Al Azraq base or to U.S. fighter jets.

Iran released only footage of missile launches, without releasing any on-the-ground photos, video, or satellite data that could verify the claimed destruction of Al Azraq base or the F-35s.

As a result, analysts say Iran's announcement lacks credible supporting evidence, and the claims appear unpersuasive based on the material available so far.

                                                                                                             Park Jin-sook