US helped Israel shoot down Iran missiles – Pentagon

The US fired approximately a dozen interceptors at the Iranian missiles fired towards Israel, the Pentagon has said.

US President Joe Biden said the US “actively” supported Israel’s defence at his direction. He said he had spent the morning in the Situation Room – the White House hub for handling serious national security issues.

The Israeli military said about 180 missiles were fired at Israel on Wednesday, most of which were intercepted.

Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian has defended the attack, calling it a “decisive” response “in defence of Iranian interests and citizens”.

In a Pentagon press briefing on Tuesday, Maj Gen Patrick Ryder said two US Navy destroyers were used to fire the interceptors at the missiles, which the US believed were all launched from Iran.

He did not confirm whether they hit any of the Iranian missiles used in the attack – adding that information was yet to be established.

He said Tuesday’s attack was about “twice the scope” of Iran’s April attack in terms of the ballistic missiles used.

Maj Gen Ryder added that the Pentagon was not aware of any warning for the attack.

President Biden said the US was “fully supportive” of Israel after the attack.

“Today, at my direction, the United States military actively supported the defence of Israel, and we’re still assessing the impact,” he said.

“But based on what we know now, the attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective. And this is testament to the Israeli military capability and the US military.”

Asked by reporters what the response towards Iran would be, Biden said: “That’s in active discussion right now. That remains to be seen.”

He said he would be talking to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his message “would depend on what we finally conclude is needed”.

Earlier, White House national security spokesman Jake Sullivan described Iran’s attack as a “significant escalation”, adding that the US would now consider “the appropriate next steps” to secure American interests and “to promote stability to the maximum extent possible”.

Iran’s armed forces warned against any direct military intervention in support of Israel.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement that Tuesday’s attacks were in response to Israel’s killing of a top IRGC commander and leaders of Iran-backed militias in the region.

It mentioned the killings of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoshan in Lebanon last weekend.

It also referenced the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July. While Israel has not admitted to being behind Haniyeh’s death, it is widely believed to be responsible.