The United States is assisting Israel in shooting down missiles coming from Iran as the two countries trade strikes in an escalating conflict.
A U.S. official confirmed to the Washington Examiner that the military “is assisting in shooting down missiles targeting Israel.” In previous attacks, both air and naval assets, such as U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft and destroyer-based missile defenses, have intercepted missiles.
The Israeli military announced that Iran fired more than 100 missiles toward the country Friday night, making a “few hits.” Tehran’s strikes were in response to Israel launching a preemptive attack on Iran’s military targets and nuclear program.
Israel has repeatedly expressed concern over Iran’s nuclear program, and a May 31 International Atomic Energy Agency report suggested Iran was not in compliance with its nuclear nonproliferation obligations prior to the attack.
President Donald Trump, who has been negotiating with Iran on a deal to get the country to stop uranium enrichment, spoke Friday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a White House official told Reuters. Iran pulled out of talks indefinitely after the attack.
Trump reacted to the initial Israeli strikes by offering Iran a “second chance” to avoid more attacks, suggesting the strikes could have been avoided if they had agreed to a deal in the first place.
“Two months ago I gave Iran a 60 day ultimatum to ‘make a deal.’ They should have done it! Today is day 61,” Trump said in a Truth Social post Friday. “I told them what to do, but they just couldn’t get there. Now they have, perhaps, a second chance!”
Other countries have previously helped Israel shoot down missiles. In April 2024, Iran launched more than 300 missiles, which included 170 drones and over 120 ballistic missiles toward Israel. The Israeli military said “99%” of them were intercepted by Israel’s aerial defense systems and its “partners.”
ISRAEL LAUNCHES MAJOR ATTACK ON IRAN OVER ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM: WHAT TO KNOW
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that his country’s fight against Iran is not over.
“More is on the way. The regime does not know what hit them, or what will hit them. It has never been weaker,” Netanyahu said.