Israel Fends Off Iranian Attack with Help from Allies
Israel successfully defended itself against a massive attack on Saturday, with the assistance of powerful allies from around the world. Over 300 drones and missiles were launched at Israel from Iran, but the Israeli Defense Forces, along with support from the United States, France, Jordan, and the United Kingdom, managed to thwart roughly 99% of the attack.
President Biden commended the efforts of the U.S. military in helping Israel defend against the attack, stating, “Thanks to these deployments and the extraordinary skill of our servicemembers, we helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles.”
France, Jordan, and the United Kingdom also played crucial roles in intercepting the attack. French forces intercepted several Iranian projectiles over Iraq and Jordan, while the U.K.’s Royal Air Force intercepted drones bound for Israel in the region.
Jordan confirmed that its forces shot down dozens of Iranian drones that violated its airspace en route to Israel, and temporarily closed its airspace as a precautionary measure.
Israel’s sophisticated air defense systems, including the Iron Dome and David’s Sling, were instrumental in fending off the attack. The Arrow Missile Defense System, capable of intercepting missiles from up to 1,500 miles away, and David’s Sling, designed to intercept various threats, played key roles in protecting Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been preparing for the possibility of a direct attack from Iran for weeks, and following the attack, the Israeli military carried out airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in response.
The Biden administration advised against a direct strike on Iran by Israel, while reaffirming U.S. support for the country. President Biden praised Israel’s ability to defend itself, sending a clear message to its enemies that its security will not be compromised.
