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Iran fired more than 300 rockets, drones and cruise missiles at Israel. During the massive attack, the USA intervened in the Middle East conflict with a strong presence.
Washington – When a retaliatory attack against Israel was announced in Iran, US President Joe Biden assured Israel of his full support. Last Saturday, April 13, Iran finally fired more than 300 drones, rockets and cruise missiles at Israel – and the US kept its promise. By shooting down Iranian threats and missiles, the US military is marking the largest air defense battle in the ongoing Middle East crisis.
Attack from Iran on Israel: USA fends off more than 75 missiles and drones
The attack on Israel on Saturday evening was the historic first direct attack from Iranian soil. The leadership in Tehran said it was retaliating for a suspected Israeli attack on an Iranian embassy building in Syria at the beginning of April, in which two brigadier generals were killed. The massive attack from Iran lasted around four hours and was largely repelled outside Israel’s borders. The combined air defense of Israel, Great Britain, France, Jordan and the USA has managed to deter around 99 percent of threats in the Middle East, according to the Israel Defense Forces. How Business Insider reports, the US alone is responsible for defending over 75 Iranian missiles and drones.
USA defends Israel in the Middle East: Navy eliminates Iranian missiles, fighter jets eliminate drones
A senior U.S. military officer spoke to reporters on Sunday and said United States forces have eliminated over 70 of Iran’s munitions. Two guided-missile destroyers, the USS Arleigh Burke and the USS Carney of the USmarine Accordingly, they fired and destroyed between four and six ballistic missiles on Saturday night. The Patriot anti-aircraft missile system also defended a missile over Iraq. U.S. fighter jets also shot down more than 70 Iranian disposable attack drones, according to U.S. officials. The officer did not want to say how many fighter jets were involved in the interception operation in the Middle East. Trump is making serious accusations against incumbent President Biden after the further escalation in the Middle East conflict.
Biden promises Israel further support in the Middle East conflict after an attack from Iran
Joe Biden said after the Iranian attack on Israel that he had already ordered his armed forces to deploy aircraft and ballistic missile defense systems to the region a week earlier. Biden expressed concern even before the actual attack and warned that the retaliatory attack would come sooner rather than later. “Thanks to these deployments and the extraordinary skills of our soldiers, we have helped Israel shoot down nearly all incoming drones and missiles,” Biden said in a statement on Sunday. The US remains ready to protect troops and partners in the region, support Israel and promote stability in the Middle East, added Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Biden had previously sharpened his criticism of Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza.
The majority of the remaining Iranian missiles were intercepted by Israel’s Arrow 2 and 3, and Great Britain also confirmed that it had intercepted several drones. While none of the drones or cruise missiles launched by Iran crossed Israeli territory, according to the Israel Defense Forces, some of the missiles did penetrate. There was an impact on the Nevatim military base in the south of the country, causing “slight damage to the infrastructure,” said Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the Israeli military. In addition, a seven-year-old girl was seriously injured.
How Israel, which is still at war with Palestine after the Hamas attack on October 7th, will respond to the attack from Iran is still unclear. The situation is currently being examined and possible plans that are “necessary for the defense of Israel” are being discussed in the cabinet.