Iran attacked Israel earlier right now with a barrage of roughly 200 ballistic missiles. Whereas most of these missiles have been destroyed earlier than reaching their goal, some did affect and trigger minimal harm, stated the Pentagon press secretary throughout a briefing right now.
“We condemn these reckless assaults by Iran, and we name on Iran to halt any additional assaults, together with from its proxy forces,” stated Pentagon Press Secretary Air Power Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder. “Through the assault, the U.S. navy coordinated intently with the Israeli Protection Forces to assist defend Israel.”
As we speak’s assault was almost twice the scope of an identical assault April 13 and 14, stated Ryder. And like in April, the U.S. once more assisted in defending Israel.
Two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the usCole and USS Bulkeley, each deployed within the Japanese Mediterranean, fired a dozen interceptors at incoming Iranian ballistic missiles as a part of defending Israel. Presently, Ryder stated, it’s unknown if these interceptors took down any of the missiles.
Ryder additionally stated preliminary assessments are that each one the missiles fired have been truly launched from Iran, not from proxy states, and Iran did certainly plan to trigger a big quantity of hurt in Israel.
“You do not launch that many missiles at a goal with out the intent of hitting one thing,” Ryder stated. “Similar to the final time, their intent is to trigger destruction. And so, fortuitously … Israel has very important air protection capabilities, and the U.S., in fact, performed a task in serving to on that entrance as properly.”
Preliminary indications, Ryder stated, are that there was minimal harm on the bottom and Israel was capable of defend itself in opposition to the Iranian assault efficiently.
Ryder additionally stated, no U.S. personnel have been injured or harmed through the Iranian missile assault.
Secretary of Protection Lloyd J. Austin III communicated with Israeli Protection Minister Yoav Gallant at the least twice right now, each earlier than the assault and through the assault, Ryder stated.
“He reaffirmed america ironclad dedication to the protection of Israel and underscored that the U.S. stays well-postured all through the Center East area to guard U.S. forces and defend Israel within the face of threats from Iran and Iran-backed terrorist organizations,” Ryder stated.