In a recent development, Jake Sullivan, the National Security Adviser, has declared the Iranian missile attack on Israel as "defeated and ineffective."
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He further revealed that the U.S. military and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) collaborated to counteract the strikes. Iran, in an act of aggression, launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel on Tuesday, marking a "significant escalation," Sullivan stated during a White House briefing.
According to Fox News, Iran's missile strikes were a retaliatory response to the deaths of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders. This action follows a series of Israeli strikes against Tehran's proxies in the region over the past few weeks. Despite the severity of the attack, Sullivan reported no casualties on the Israeli side. However, the White House is closely monitoring the reported death of a Palestinian civilian in Jericho in the West Bank.
Sullivan further elaborated on the U.S.'s involvement in the situation, stating, "U.S. naval destroyers joined Israeli Air Defense units in firing interceptors to shoot down inbound missiles. President Biden and Vice President Harris monitored the attack and the response from the White House Situation Room, joined in person and remotely by their national security team." He added that no damage to aircraft or strategic military assets in Israel has been reported. "In short, based on what we know at this point, this attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective. The word fog of war was invented for a situation like this. This is a fluid situation."
While Israel's missile defense systems intercepted many of the missiles, some did manage to hit the ground. The Pentagon confirmed that the U.S. fired approximately 12 interceptors against Iranian missiles. Sullivan emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "This is a significant escalation by Iran, a significant event, and it is equally significant that we were able to step up with Israel and create a situation in which no one was killed in this attack in Israel We are now going to look at what the appropriate next steps are to secure, first and foremost, American interests and then to promote stability to the maximum extent possible as we go forward."
The U.S. plans to consult with the Israelis regarding the next steps in response to the Iranian attack. The White House is particularly concerned about protecting U.S. service members in the region and has urged American citizens in Lebanon to heed the State Department's advice to find civilian commercial means to leave the country.
In a separate incident, Sullivan expressed his condolences for the victims of a shooting in the Israeli city of Jaffa, near Tel Aviv. Local officials reported to Fox News that at least eight people were killed and seven injured in the attack, which is believed to be a terror attack.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had previously advised citizens to take shelter and follow instructions from the Home Front Command as the Jewish State's Iron Dome anti-missile defense system worked to intercept the incoming rockets.
Fox News Chief Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst reported that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed this latest barrage of missiles was in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, Lebanon, in an Israeli airstrike last week and the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July. The Revolutionary Guard warned that if Israel responds to the missile barrage, "it will face crushing attacks."
A senior White House official informed Fox News that Iran was preparing to "imminently" launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel. While the White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre did not directly answer when asked if the United States had a heads-up from Iran about the strike ahead of time, the Pentagon stated that they were "not aware of any pre-warning by Iran."
This situation underscores the volatility of the region and the need for a robust response to ensure the safety of American interests and promote stability. The U.S.'s collaboration with Israel in this crisis demonstrates the importance of international cooperation in maintaining peace and security.
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