The German base in al‑Azraq, Jordan, appears to have been struck by Iranian ballistic missiles during the night of Monday. According to information from “Der Spiegel”, the German section of the Jordanian air force station-where the U.S. Air Force is also located-was struck as well.
At the time of the attack the German soldiers were in protective shelters, so no casualties were reported. It is still unclear whether the missiles hit the base directly or whether shrapnel from previously intercepted projectiles fell onto the military site.
The German Armed Forces have been permanently stationed in al‑Azraq for years. From there, the Luftwaffe supports an international anti‑terror coalition with fighter aircraft. Due to the escalating situation in the Middle East, the Bundeswehr had already reduced its personnel there in anticipation, leaving a low three‑digit number of soldiers on site.
Currently the Bundeswehr keeps two Luftwaffe A400M transport aircraft on standby in al‑Azraq, ready to respond swiftly in the event of an evacuation operation.
The extent of the damage caused by the strikes was uncertain at first. A spokesperson for the operational command confirmed to “Der Spiegel” that an attack took place during the night and that the incident is presently under internal investigation.