Posted on 10/01/24
| News Source: Times of Israel
The US warned Tuesday that there would be “severe consequences” for Iran after its missile attack against Israel, pledging to work with Jerusalem to extract a price from Tehran.
Washington offered similar support for Israel after helping it thwart Iran’s previous attack in April, but then it quickly turned to caution Israel against responding too broadly, fearing an escalation into a regional war. On Tuesday, though, Biden officials weren’t just stressing Israel’s right to respond but indicating that the US would be assisting Israel in launching that response.
“There will be severe consequences for this attack and we will work with Israel to make that the case,” Sullivan said during a press briefing at the White House hours after Iran launched some 180 ballistic missiles at Israel.
One Palestinian in the West Bank was killed and two Israelis were injured by falling shrapnel and debris that had caused damage and started fires in the area.
The Israel Defense Forces said that it intercepted “a large number” of the missiles. Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder said US Navy destroyers fired roughly one dozen interceptors at Iranian missiles. Sullivan said US “partners” also took part in thwarting the attack, but declined to identify them. Jordan Public Security Directorate said its air defenses intercepted missiles and drones over its airspace during the attack.
“At my direction, the United States military actively supported the defense of Israel,” US President Joe Biden told reporters at the White House, adding that the Iranian attack “appears to have been defeated and ineffective.”