IRGC targets US jets in Jordan as Bitcoin holds steady and oil spikes 4%

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched another round of missile strikes on US military aircraft stationed at Azraq Air Base in Jordan on July 15, marking the sixth wave of what Iran has branded Operation Nasr 2. The targets included aircraft shelters housing F-15, F-16, and F-35 fighter jets, plus facilities supporting MQ-9 Reaper drones.

Jordan’s air defense forces intercepted most of the incoming missiles, with Jordanian authorities reporting no confirmed casualties or structural damage.

What’s actually happening on the ground

The IRGC framed the July 15 operation as retaliation for prior US strikes on Iranian targets, a pattern that has defined the conflict’s rhythm since hostilities escalated in February 2026. Azraq Air Base sits in northeastern Jordan and serves as a critical hub for US air operations in the region. Through June and July, both the frequency and intensity of these strike waves have increased.

How markets are reading the conflict

Oil moved first and fastest. Prices jumped nearly 4% in the immediate aftermath of the July 15 intercepts.

Bitcoin’s reaction was more nuanced. The asset has been trading in a range between $62,600 and $64,700 around mid-July.

The crypto-specific angle worth watching involves sanctions infrastructure. Iran has historically used crypto as a mechanism to move value outside the reach of US financial sanctions. Exchanges operating in the US face heightened pressure to demonstrate sanctions compliance, which can affect liquidity and onboarding for certain asset types.

On the macro side, a sustained oil price increase of the kind we’re seeing would feed directly into inflation expectations. Higher energy costs pressure central banks to keep rates elevated longer, which historically has been a headwind for risk assets including Bitcoin.

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