U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, including the USS Cole (DDG-67) and USS Bulkeley (DDG-84), intercepted several ballistic missiles fired by Iran towards Israel in the Eastern Mediterranean.

U.S. Navy destroyers, the USS Buckley and USS Cole, deployed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, played a pivotal role in intercepting Iranian missiles aimed at Israel on Tuesday. Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, reported that approximately a dozen interceptors were launched in response to the attack.

The Israeli military confirmed that Iran had launched missiles towards Israel, prompting an immediate alert for citizens to seek shelter. This aggressive action followed intelligence warnings from a senior U.S. administration official indicating Iran’s plans to launch a ballistic missile attack imminently.

The official, speaking under the condition of anonymity, highlighted the U.S.’s active role in supporting Israel’s defensive measures against these threats. The decision for this direct military engagement by Iran was made after senior commanders of the Revolutionary Guards Corps persuaded Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that demonstrating military strength was necessary under the circumstances.

This incident underscores the ongoing tension in the region and the critical role of U.S. military assets in assisting allied nations like Israel to safeguard against external threats.