U.S. Aids Israel In Shooting Down Iranian Missiles
U.S. military forces are actively assisting Israel in shooting down Iranian missiles and drones launched in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets, senior U.S. officials confirmed on Friday.
'Yes, the U.S. is assisting in shooting down missiles targeting Israel,' a U.S. defense official told Newsweek.
Another official emphasized the U.S. commitment to protecting American interests, stating, 'There are hundreds of thousands of American citizens and other American assets in Israel, and the U.S. is working to protect them,' Fox News reported.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched a large-scale operation, dubbed 'Operation Rising Lion,' late Thursday night, targeting over 200 sites across Iran, including nuclear facilities, senior military leaders, and nuclear scientists. The strikes, which continued into Friday afternoon, reportedly killed three key Iranian figures, escalating tensions in the region.
Iran responded with 'Operation True Promise III,' launching over 100 drones and fewer than 100 ballistic missiles toward Israel, according to the IDF. Most were intercepted by Israel's air defense systems, with U.S. support, or failed to reach their targets. Iraq and Jordan reported Iranian drones crossing their airspace, but Israel said the drones were neutralized outside its borders.
U.S. Navy destroyers USS The Sullivans and USS Arleigh Burke, positioned in the Eastern Mediterranean, are aiding Israel's defense efforts, Fox News reported. U.S. Army units are also deploying Patriot PAC-3 missiles and Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems to intercept incoming threats, officials told Fox News. A regional security source indicated Iran's third wave of missile launches concluded Friday.
The IDF reported minimal damage, with most missiles intercepted or malfunctioning. However, some missiles have impacted Tel Aviv, and residents were urged to stay in shelters as air raid sirens sounded across the country.
President Donald Trump met with his national security team in the White House Situation Room on Friday to monitor the crisis. He publicly called on Iran to negotiate a deal to avoid further escalation, a sentiment he echoed after Iran announced its withdrawal from nuclear talks with the U.S. in response to Israel's strikes.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the U.S. was not involved in Israel's offensive strikes, describing them as a 'unilateral action' deemed necessary by Israel for self-defense. Rubio warned Iran against targeting U.S. interests or personnel.
The U.S. has previously supported Israel during Iran's 'Operation True Promise I' and 'II' in April and October 2024, part of a cycle of retaliatory attacks tied to the broader Israel-Hamas conflict, fueled by Iran's backing of the Axis of Resistance coalition. Israel's latest operation marks the most significant escalation yet, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
IAEA: No increased radiation after attack on Iran's Isfahan site
No increased radiation levels have been detected following the Israeli airstrike on the Iranian nuclear facility in Isfahan, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In a post on X on Saturday, the IAEA said it remains in close contact with the Iranian authorities, following several strikes on facilities on Friday. Located in central Iran, 440 kilometres south of Tehran, Isfahan is widely suspected to be the primary location for Iran's secret nuclear weapon development programme. Among other things, uranium ore is prepared for enrichment in Isfahan. Several nuclear research facilities are located in and near the city of some 2.2 million inhabitants. Tehran repeatedly claims that its nuclear programme only serves peaceful purposes.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Iran-Israel tensions remain high as conflict enters second day
Tensions between Israel and Iran remained high on the second day of open conflict on Saturday, with neither side showing willingness to back down despite mounting international pressure to de-escalate. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a sharp warning to Iran and its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, threatening severe consequences if attacks on Israeli civilian areas continue. "If Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli civilian population, Tehran will burn," Katz said on Saturday in a statement. His comments came after overnight Iranian missile strikes reportedly killed at least three people and injured dozens in Israel. Iran's waves of ballistic missiles and drone strikes on Israel are viewed as retaliation for Israel's large-scale airstrikes on Friday, which targeted the country's nuclear sites, senior military officials and top scientists. On Saturday, Iranian officials confirmed the deaths of three more nuclear scientists and another two generals in the Israeli strikes. At least 78 people were killed in the strikes - including the scientists and senior military officials - and more than 320 people were injured, Iranian officials said. Iran has also issued warnings to Western powers Iranian media outlets, meanwhile, reported that Tehran has notified France, Britain and the United States of potential future strikes should they continue supporting Israel's defence efforts. Countries involved in Israel's defence against Iranian attacks would therefore have to expect attacks themselves, according to the Iranian leadership. Regional military bases of allied states and ships in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea were named as possible targets in the media reports. Iran shoots down drones near border with Azerbaijan and Turkey Iran's military reportedly shot down drones near its north-western border, according to state media on Saturday. The incident occurred close to the borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey, the report said. Several Iranian cities came under heavy shelling in overnight attacks. In central and north-eastern Tehran, explosions and sustained anti-aircraft fire were heard for hours, local media and eyewitnesses reported. The Israeli military said it had struck dozens of targets in Iran, including infrastructure related to surface-to-air missile systems. It said the strikes aimed to weaken Iranian air defences near Tehran, allowing Israeli aircraft greater operational freedom in the area. Explosions near Tel Aviv An Israeli military spokesperson said most Iranian missiles launched overnight were intercepted. Unconfirmed reports suggest US forces are assisting Israel with missile defence operations. Despite interceptions, missile debris caused damage in central Israel, including the Tel Aviv area, where several buildings were badly affected. On Saturday, the Israeli military reported another drone attack from Iran, triggering fresh air raid sirens and defensive responses. Israel said it would continue targeting Iranian positions.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
More Americans support than oppose Trump's Army celebration parade: Poll
As President Donald Trump hosts events on Saturday to celebrate the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary, a new national poll indicates more Americans are likely to approve than disapprove of the president's decision to hold a military parade. But six in 10 Americans are concerned about the cost of the parade, saying it's "not a good use" of government money, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey. Trump, who is marking his 79th birthday on Saturday, is scheduled to give a speech during the parade, which will take place Saturday evening along the National Mall in Washington D.C. Defense officials say roughly 6,600 soldiers will march in the parade, with some 50 military aircraft and 150 vehicles, including tanks, rocket launchers, and missiles. The Army says it's spending $25-$45 million to pay for the parade, which includes fixing D.C. streets damaged by the tanks. Trump Warns Any Protesters At His Military Parade Will Be 'Met With Very Big Force' Trump has defended the cost of the parade, saying last month in an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" that it would be "peanuts compared to the value of doing it." Read On The Fox News App "We have the greatest missiles in the world. We have the greatest submarines in the world. We have the greatest army tanks in the world. We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we're going to celebrate it," the president said. Trump To Host Military Parade To Celebrate Army's 250Th Birthday But some in Congress are criticizing the parade, saying the money could be better spent. "If it was really about celebrating military families, we could put $30 million toward helping them offset the cost of their child care, food assistance and tuition," Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a military veteran who lost both of her legs in combat while piloting an Army Black Hawk helicopter during the Iraq War, said in a social media post. "But it isn't. Trump is throwing himself a $30 million birthday parade just to stroke his own ego," Duckworth argued. According to the poll, 40% of adults nationwide approved of the military parade, with 29% disapproving, and three in 10 neither approving nor disapproving. There was an expected partisan divide, with two-thirds of Republicans approving of the president's move to hold the parade, and half of Democrats disapproving. But in a separate question, 60% of those surveyed said holding the parade was not a good use of government funds, with 38% disagreeing. Nearly two-thirds of Republicans said holding the parade was a good use of government funds, while eight in 10 Democrats disagreed. The White House, in a statement, said that the parade "will be a unifying celebration for not only the thousands in attendance, but Americans across the country who can participate in honoring our active-duty servicemembers, Veterans, and fallen heroes." Pro-democracy, progressive, and labor activists are planning protests in all 50 states on Saturday that will coincide with Trump's military parade. Many are part of a series of "No Kings" protests across the country, with more than 1,500 rallies scheduled for this weekend. But organizers decided against holding a major protest in the nation's capital and instead will hold their main event in Philadelphia. The poll, which was conducted June 5-9, also indicates that 39% of those questioned approve of the job Trump's doing in the White House, with six in ten giving the president a thumbs down. The survey had an overall margin of error of plus or minus four percentage article source: More Americans support than oppose Trump's Army celebration parade: Poll
