The United States played a crucial role in countering Iran's attack on Israel over the weekend, deploying aircraft and planes that intercepted numerous drones and missiles. American officials, both military and diplomatic, were heavily involved in preparations for the expected violence.
Iran unleashed a barrage of more than 100 ballistic missiles, over 30 land-attack cruise missiles, and around 150 attack drones at Israel. US forces successfully engaged and destroyed over 80 drones and at least six ballistic missiles intended for Israel from Iran and Yemen.
President Joe Biden closely monitored the situation from the White House Situation Room as the attack unfolded. The catalyst for the attack was Israel's strike on Iran's consulate in Damascus on April 1, which resulted in the deaths of seven Revolutionary Guards. Following this, Biden instructed the government to support Israel to the fullest extent possible.
US officials, including Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, maintained continuous communication with Israel and other Middle Eastern countries leading up to the attack. General Erik Kurilla was dispatched to the region to coordinate efforts and provide real-time updates.
Washington also engaged in direct communications with Iran through the Swiss channel and bolstered military assets in the region to deter further escalation. Despite Israel's potential response, the US emphasized that it would not participate in any retaliatory actions. Additionally, Israel indicated that it was not seeking a significant escalation with Iran, but the possibility of further actions remains uncertain.
