According to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces, supported by U.S. European Command destroyers, have destroyed more than 80 one-way attack drones and at least six ballistic missiles aimed at Israel from Iran and Yemen over the weekend.
CENTCOM reported that the strikes included the destruction of a ballistic missile on its launcher vehicle, as well as seven unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that were taken out on the ground before they could be launched. The attacks were carried out in areas controlled by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The air strikes were in response to an Iranian missile and drone assault on Israeli territory late on Saturday. Iran's attack was retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on the Islamic Republic's embassy compound in Syria on April 1, which killed top Revolutionary Guards commanders.
Despite the large-scale Iranian bombardment, the damage was relatively modest, as most of the projectiles were shot down by Israel's Iron Dome defense system with assistance from the U.S., Britain, France and Jordan.
"CENTCOM remains postured to support Israel's defense against these dangerous actions by Iran. We will continue to work with all our regional partners to increase regional security," the U.S. military said in a statement.
The situation has prompted calls for restraint from allies anxious to avoid an escalation of conflict in the Middle East. However, Israel's military chief has vowed that the country will respond to Iran's weekend attack.
The series of cross-border strikes has heightened tensions in the region, with Iranians anxious about the prospect of Israeli retaliation and the potential for the conflict to spiral. As regional powers navigate this delicate situation, the U.S. military's decisive action to defend its ally Israel underscores the complexities of the geopolitical landscape in the Middle East.