US preparedness plays a ‘crucial’ role in preventing an Iranian attack on Israel

The “critical” role played by the US in helping Israel deter an Iranian attack on Tuesday came hours after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin assured Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant that the US had “increased force readiness” and stood ready.

“This is a major escalation by Iran,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Tuesday. “It is equally remarkable that we were able to stand up with Israel and create a situation where no one was killed in this Israeli attack.”

This observation follows a major missile strike launched by Iran in which 180 missiles were fired at Israel.

According to Iran’s state media, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the attack was in retaliation for Friday’s killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed along with IRGC commander and military adviser Brig. Gen. Abbas Nilforushan, and Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas who was killed in July during a visit to Tehran.

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“In response to the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah and Martyr Nilfroshan, we targeted the heart of the occupied territories,” the IRGC said in a statement reported by Iranian media. “If the Zionist regime responds to Iran’s actions, it will face a painful attack.”

After the attack, Israel closed its airport, residents of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem were ordered to take shelter and Israel’s security cabinet said it would meet Tuesday night in a basement in Jerusalem, according to Israeli media outlet Jerusalem Post.

It is not clear if the Iranian missiles ever made contact with any targets, although the Israel Defense Force (IDF) told Fox News Digital that there were no known casualties.

A map showing the positions of US Navy assets in the Middle East.

In a statement sent to Fox News, a US defense official said, “[In] In keeping with our ironclad commitment to Israel’s security, US forces in the region are currently defending against Iranian missiles aimed at Israel.

“Our troops are standing by to provide additional defense and security support to US forces operating in the region,” the official said.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, right, and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, left, listen to the playing of the Israeli National Anthem during the arrival ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (P Photo/Susan Walsh)

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Earlier on Tuesday, the Pentagon said in its reading of the second phone call Austin held with Gallant in the past 24 hours, that the secretary “made it clear that the United States is ready to protect American personnel, allies and partners in the US in the face of threats from Iran and terrorist organizations supported by Iran and is determined to prevent any actor from exploiting tensions or escalating conflict in the region.”

Three US guided-missile destroyers have been stationed in the eastern Mediterranean to help defend Israel, including the USS Arleigh Burke, USS Bulkeley and USS Cole – which reportedly played a close role in defending against Iran’s attack on Tuesday.

“Today, Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles toward Israel. The United States military is working closely with the Israel Defense Forces to help protect Israel from this attack,” Sullivan said. “US naval destroyers joined Israeli Air Defense units in firing missiles.”

In April, during Iran’s last major attack on Israel when it fired more than 300 drones and missiles, USS Arleigh Burke and USS Carney fired more than 81 drones and at least six missiles using guided missile destroyers.

The missiles were fired using SM-3 anti-missile interceptors from ships also stationed 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 besides those provided by its coastal allies, including the infamous Iron Dome designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells fired at a distance of two to 43 kilometers.

Rockets fly in the sky, amid clashes across the border between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from Tel Aviv, Israel, on October 1, 2024. (REUTERS/Ammar Awad)

But it also has systems capable of stopping missiles fired from a distance, such as the Arrow Missile Defense System, which can intercept missiles fired from 1,500 kilometers and more in the earth’s atmosphere.

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The air defense system known as David’s Sling is also designed to intercept enemy aircraft, drones, smart missiles, medium- and long-range rockets and surface-to-air missiles launched at a range of 25 to 190 miles.

IDF Spokesman, Rear Adm.

“During the defense, we made several intervals. There is some impact in the center and the southern parts of the country,” said Hagari on Tuesday night local time. “At the moment we are still doing research [of the attack]but we don’t know the injured people.”