'There will be severe consequences': How US helped Israel counter Iran attack

The US said it would work with Israel to ensure Iran faced "severe consequences" for Tuesday's attack involving over 180 ballistic missiles.

In Short

• Iran fired around 200 missiles at Israel on Tuesday
• Many missiles intercepted, US Navy destroyers played key role
• US President Joe Biden monitored the situation 'minute by minute'

"Make no mistake. The United States is fully, fully, fully supportive of Israel," President Joe Biden said on Tuesday after Iran launched an unprecedented 180 missiles at Israel in a massive escalation of tensions in the Middle East. The emphatic declaration was in line with a US-Israel coordinated effort to preempt and counter the Iranian attack; Tel Aviv said that many of the missiles were intercepted, with assistance from US agencies and missile destroyers in the region, preventing any casualties.

"The attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective, and this is a testament to Israeli military capability and the US military," President Biden told reporters. The US, he said, was "actively" supporting Israel's defence under his directive.

Biden was monitoring the developments "minute by minute" in the Situation Room - the White House's hub for managing critical national security matters - when the Iranian attack occurred, according to the White House.

Calling the Iranian attack a "significant escalation", US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan warned Iran of "severe consequences", adding "We will work with Israel to make that the case."

"This was first and foremost the result of the professionalism of the (Israeli military). But in no small part because of the skilled work of the US military and meticulous joint planning in anticipation of the attack," Sullivan said.

The US would continue to monitor for further threats and attacks from Iran and its proxies, he added.

HOW US HELPED ISRAEL'S DEFENCE

US President Joe Biden directed the US military to aid Israel’s defence against Iranian attacks and shoot down missiles targeting Israel, the White House said. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were monitoring the attack from the White House situation room and receiving regular updates.

According to the Pentagon, the US fired about a dozen interceptors at the barrage of Iranian ballistic missiles fired at Israel.

"During the attack, the US military coordinated closely with the Israeli Defence Forces to help defend Israel," Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder said.

Two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the USS Cole and USS Bulkeley, both deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean, fired a dozen interceptors at incoming Iranian ballistic missiles as part of defending Israel, Ryder added.

According to initial indications, Ryder said, there was minimal damage on the ground and Israel was able to defend itself against the Iranian attack successfully.

US Secretary of Defence Austin communicated with Israel's Gallant at least twice on Tuesday, both before the attack and during the attack, the pentagon official said. On Wednesday, Austin spoke to Gallant again and "expressed mutual appreciation for coordinated defence".

"He reaffirmed the United States ironclad commitment to the defence of Israel and underscored that the US remains well-postured throughout the Middle East region to protect US forces and defend Israel in the face of threats from Iran and Iran-backed terrorist organisations," Ryder said.

Even before the attack, the US had warned Israel of an imminent strike, including the potential scale of the barrage. On Tuesday evening, a senior US official revealed that the US had intelligence suggesting Iran was preparing to launch a significant ballistic missile strike on Israel. The official indicated the attack, expected within the next 12 hours, could be larger than the one Tehran had executed earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Tehran claimed that most of its missiles successfully struck their targets. Celebrations erupted in Iran following the assault on Israel, which was carried out in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and in response to Israel's ongoing offensive in Lebanon and Gaza.