The US military has intercepted Iranian missiles targeted at Israel, two US officials confirmed on Friday. The interceptions, they added, have been done using ground-based defenses and not with the use of fighter aircraft or naval warships at this point.
One source, who spoke off the record, explained that although the US maintains a strong military presence in the Middle East, estimated at close to 40,000 troops, land-based resources alone have been utilized thus far in this operation. America’s military presence in the Middle East encompasses a broad spectrum of air defense vehicles, fighter jets, and Navy warships that can intercept airborne threats.
Details of the precise location of the interceptions were not made public. The US has, however, used fighter planes and warships before to destroy Iranian-launched missiles and drones headed for Israel in previous escalations.
The development comes at a time of increased tensions within the region and the US remaining committed to helping defend Israel from increasing threats. It also indicates that Washington is willing to leverage its wide-ranging military capabilities within the Middle East as a means of dissuading and reacting to any Iranian attack.