The Pentagon press secretary, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, highlighted the significance of Iran's failed attack on Israel over the weekend, describing it as 'pretty telling' about Tehran's weapons capabilities. The attack involved a large number of air threats, with over 300 launched by Iran, of which 99% were successfully intercepted.
Ryder emphasized the close coordination and synchronization between the United States and coalition partners in addressing air defense threats in the region, showcasing the effectiveness of their joint efforts.
The attack, which took place late Saturday, saw Iran deploying a combination of drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles from multiple locations, including Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. The Pentagon reported the use of 110 medium-range ballistic missiles, over 30 land attack cruise missiles, and more than 150 drones in the assault.
Despite the scale of the attack, only seven ballistic missiles managed to reach Israeli territory, causing minor damage to an air base. Israeli and U.S. forces, with assistance from British and French counterparts, successfully intercepted the remaining threats.
The retaliatory strike by Iran came in response to an earlier airstrike on its Syrian consulate, which resulted in casualties, including a senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This marked the first direct military assault by Iran on Israel, escalating tensions between the two nations that have a history of hostilities dating back to the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
While Ryder did not disclose whether Israel had informed Washington about potential retaliation plans, Israel's War Cabinet convened to address the situation. Despite conflicting reports from Turkish, Jordanian, and Iraqi officials, Ryder stated that Iran did not provide advance notice of the attack.
