The USA army mentioned it had shot down dozens of the drones and missiles that Iran fired at Israel on Saturday, as different allies affirmed help for Israel or pledged to assist defend it.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Israel’s chief army spokesman, mentioned that Israel had intercepted many of the 200 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles launched by Iran with “some help” from its allies.
Protection Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III mentioned late Saturday that U.S. forces had intercepted dozens of missiles and assault drones launched at Israel from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. The USA didn’t present additional particulars on its function in intercepting the assaults.
Whereas President Biden has more and more criticized how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is dealing with the marketing campaign towards Hamas in Gaza, he has persistently affirmed Israel’s proper to defend itself. Up to now six months of battle between Israel and Hamas, the US has countered assaults from Iran’s proxies within the area, together with these from the Iran-backed Houthi militia within the Pink Sea.
Britain’s protection secretary, Grant Shapps, mentioned in an announcement on Saturday that its jets had been ready to intercept airborne assaults inside vary of its present missions within the Center East, including that extra British jets and air refueling tankers have been deployed to bolster its operations in Iraq and Syria.
France’s overseas minister, Stéphane Séjourné, additionally condemned Iran’s assault and affirmed help for Israel. Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany known as the assaults “unjustifiable and extremely irresponsible.”
“Germany stands by Israel and we are going to talk about the scenario with our allies,” he mentioned in an announcement on social media.
Eric Schmitt, Patrick Kingsley and Farnaz Fassihi contributed reporting.
