On July 9, Iran intensified its military actions against US troops stationed in Jordan, notably with the launch of ten ballistic missiles targeting the Al-Azraq base. This escalation occurred shortly after CENTCOM's significant strike against Iranian military assets. Intelligence sources have raised concerns over the notable lack of public appearances by the newly appointed Supreme Leader, which has led to speculation regarding the IRGC's autonomy in executing military strategies, including missile attacks. Khamenei's absence, attributed to injuries from the death of his father on February 28, complicates the ability of the US and allied nations to assess Iran's command structure during critical military operations.
