US warships fired interceptors at Iranian missiles aimed at Israel

• US Navy warships fired interceptors at Iranian missiles aimed at Israel on Tuesday.
• The engagement came amid a massive Iranian retaliatory attack against Israel.
• It is the second time in six months that US forces have defended Israel from an Iranian missile attack.

US Navy warships fired interceptors at Iranian missiles aimed at Israel on Tuesday as part of a massive retaliatory bombardment, marking the second time US forces have done so in less than six months.

The US defensive measures came as Iran fired about 180 missiles at targets in Israel. The Israeli military said it also intercepted “a large number” of rockets as civilians sought protection in shelters.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the US military was coordinating closely with the Israel Defense Forces to help defend the country from attack.

“US naval destroyers joined Israeli air defense units to fire interceptors to shoot down incoming missiles,” Sullivan told reporters at a briefing. “We are not aware of any damage to aircraft or strategic military assets in Israel,” he added, saying the attack “appears to have been defeated” and was “ineffective.”

Pentagon press secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said two destroyers — the USS Bulkeley and the USS Cole — fired about a dozen interceptors to help defend Israel against Iranian ballistic missiles. It is not clear exactly how many projectiles were actually shot down.

A US defense official earlier told Business Insider that US forces stationed in the Middle East are “currently defending against missiles launched by Iran targeting Israel”, adding that “our forces remain in position to provide additional defensive support and to protect US forces operating in the region.”

Tehran said the missile attack on Israel was in retaliation for the killing of top Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.

Iran has vowed to retaliate against Israel after Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas’ political wing, was assassinated in Tehran in July. The Israeli military also targeted Iran-backed Hezbollah and killed Hassan Nasrallahthe leader of the militant group, in an airstrike in Beirut on Friday.

The assassination of Nasrallah, which occurred just days before Israel began a “limited” ground operation. inside Lebanon, raised fears that the year-long Middle East conflict could escalate, possibly bringing in the US and Iran.

A senior White House official warned before Iran’s barrage that the US had seen indications that Tehran was planning to “imminently” launch a ballistic missile attack on Israel. The official said US forces were ready to help defend and that Iran would face “serious consequences” if it attacked Israel directly.

US warships and aircraft shot down Iranian missiles and drones in April during Tehran’s unprecedented attack on Israel.

The US military has naval and air assets in position around the Middle East and in the eastern Mediterranean – more than it did in the spring – and additional forces were on the way as of Tuesday.