US destroyers intercept Iranian missiles as Mideast crisis intensifies

Two U.S. destroyers fired a dozen interceptors to help Israel ward off a barrage of some 180 Iranian ballistic missiles, about twice as many as Tehran launched in its previously unprecedented April 14 strike, Pentagon officials said Tuesday evening.

Unlike April’s strike, Tuesday evening’s included no drones, and the damage on the ground was minimal, spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters.

“You don't launch that many missiles at a target without the intent of hitting something. So absolutely, just like the last time, their intent is to cause destruction,” Ryder said. “Fortunately, you know, Israel has very significant air defense capabilities, and the U.S., of course, played a role in helping on that front as well.”

Working with Israeli air defenses, the U.S. Navy guided missile destroyers Bulkeley and Cole fired a dozen interceptor missiles during the strike, he said.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters that the U.S. and Israel will work to impose “severe consequences for the attack.”

"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," Sullivan told reporters during the press conference.

The strike happened as Israel launched a ground offensive against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, following Israel's killing of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah last week. Ryder said Israel told the United States the offensive will be “limited,” and “focused on dismantling facilities that Hezbollah has built along the border to stage attacks into Israel.” 

Israel says 63,000 of its citizens have been displaced by Hezbollah rocket fire. At the same time, nearly one million Lebanese people have fled their homes to avoid Israeli attacks, the United Nations said yesterday.

In discussions between United States and Israeli officials about the ground offensive, the U.S. wants to ensure “there's an understanding as far as potential mission creep … as it relates to the broader tensions in the region,” Ryder said. 

Israel media reported Tuesday that the Israeli military plans to conduct “powerful strikes” on targets across the Middle East in response to the Iranian attack.

The U.S. is also sending more military assets to the Middle East. On Tuesday, U.S. CENTCOM announced that three additional squadrons of F-15Es, F-16s, and A-10s have already arrived in the region. 

“Fighter aircraft can can perform a variety of missions, to include taking down drones, taking down missiles, particular kinds of missiles, as well as, you know, providing ISR electronic warfare and types of capabilities,” Ryder said about the additional aircraft squadrons. “So all of this comes together to provide us with options on how best to respond to any type of attack and to protect our forces.”

Ryder did not confirm Iranian reports that a Fattah-2 hypersonic missile was used and destroyed an Israeli Arrow battery, saying that the Pentagon is still assessing the strike.