On Tuesday, just hours after Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin assured Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant that the United States was “intensified force readiness” and ready, the United States announced that Israel would be able to repel Iranian air raids. played a “significant” role in supporting
“This is a significant escalation by Iran,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Tuesday. “It is equally important that we were able to work with Israel to create a situation in which no one was killed in this attack in Israel.”
The comments were made in the wake of a major missile attack in which Iran launched around 180 missiles toward Israel.
According to Iranian state media, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said the attack was in retaliation for the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed along with Revolutionary Guards commander and military advisor Hassan Nasrallah on Friday. did. General Abbas Nilforshan, and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed during a visit to Tehran in July.
Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts a rocket, seen from Ashkelon, Israel, October 1, 2024. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
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“Following the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh, Seyed Hassan Nasrallah and Nirfroshan martyrs, we targeted the heart of the occupied territories,” the Revolutionary Guards said in a statement carried by Iranian media. . “If the Zionist regime responds to Iranian operations, it will face an overwhelming attack.”
Following the attack, Israel closed its airspace, residents of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem were ordered to evacuate to designated locations, and the Israeli Security Cabinet announced it would convene in a Jerusalem bunker on Tuesday night, Israeli news agencies said. did jerusalem post.
It remains unclear whether the Iranian missile touched any targets, but the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told Fox News Digital that casualties are not yet known.
A map showing the location of U.S. Navy assets in the Middle East.
A US defense official said in a statement to Fox News:[In] Consistent with our nation's resolute commitment to Israel's security, U.S. forces in the region are currently defending against Iranian-launched missiles targeting Israel.
“Our military remains ready to provide additional defense support and protect U.S. forces operating in the region,” the official added.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (standing to the right) and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (to the left) listen to the Israeli national anthem during an arrival ceremony at the Pentagon on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 in Washington. (P Photo/Susan Walsh)
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Earlier Tuesday, the Pentagon said in a readout of Mr. Austin's second phone call with Mr. Gallant in the past 24 hours, the secretary said “the United States stands ready to protect our personnel, allies, and partners.'' It has been made clear.” “We face threats from Iran and Iranian-backed terrorist organizations, and we are determined to prevent any actor from exploiting regional tensions or escalating the conflict.”
Three US guided-missile destroyers, including USS Arleigh Burke, USS Bulkery, and USS Cole, are stationed off the eastern Mediterranean coast in support of Israel's defense, reportedly against Tuesday's Iranian attack. played a role in close collaboration with the
“Today, Iran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at targets in Israel. U.S. forces worked closely with the Israel Defense Forces to protect Israel from this attack,” Sullivan said. “A U.S. Navy destroyer joined Israeli air defense forces and fired an interceptor missile to shoot down the incoming missile.”
In the last major attack on Israel in April, when Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles, the USS Arleigh Burke and USS Kearny used guided missile destroyers to attack more than 81 aircraft. It shot down an attack drone and at least six ballistic missiles.
The ballistic missile was shot down using an SM-3 anti-ballistic missile from a warship located in the eastern Mediterranean at the time. The SM-3 has a range of up to 1,550 miles.
Israel has several defense systems of its own beyond those provided by its maritime allies. These include the infamous Iron Dome, designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from distances of 2 to 43 miles.
Rockets fly through the sky during cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from Tel Aviv, Israel, October 1, 2024. (Reuters/Ammar Awad)
But it also has systems that can stop missiles fired from farther away, such as the Arrow Missile Defense System, which can intercept missiles launched from up to 1,500 miles above the atmosphere.
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The air defense system, known as the David Sling, is designed to intercept enemy planes, drones, tactical ballistic missiles, medium- and long-range rockets, and cruise missiles launched at ranges of 45 to 190 miles.
Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Maj. Gen. Daniel Hagari said Iranian attacks are believed to have stopped and told Israelis it was safe to leave their shelters.
“We have carried out quite a number of interceptions during our defense. There is some impact on the central and southern regions of the country,” Hagari said on Tuesday night local time. “At this stage, we are still in the evaluation stage.” [of the attack]However, we do not know about casualties. ”
