U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says Iran’s missile attack against Israel “appears to have been defeated and ineffective.”
“There will be severe consequences for this attack and we will work with Israel to make that the case,” Sullivan says during a press briefing at the White House.
Pressed on what that response might look like, Sullivan says the US has already begun discussing the issue with Israel and that those conversations will continue, but he declines to offer additional details.
Sullivan says Iran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel in tonight’s attack, and that US naval destroyers joined Israeli air defense units in firing interceptors that shot down inbound missile.
US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris monitored the attack from the White House Situation Room with their national security aides.
The US is still working to assess the damage of the attack but currently believes the only casualty was a Palestinian man reportedly killed in the West Bank city of Jericho, Sullivan adds.
“This is a significant escalation by Iran, and it is equally significant that we were able to step up with Israel and create a situation in which no one was killed in this attack in Israel,” says the top Biden aide.
“We are now going to look at what the appropriate next steps are to secure first and foremost American interests and then to promote stability — to the maximum extent possible — as we go forward,” he says.
Hailing the apparent success in thwarting the attack, Sullivan says this is thanks primarily to the IDF’s professionalism but also “the skilled work of the US military and meticulous joint planning in anticipation of the attack.”
“We are proud of the actions that we’ve taken alongside Israel to protect and defend Israel,” Sullivan says.
Sullivan makes no mention of a regional coalition that took part in thwarting the attack, as was the case in April when the UK, France, Jordan and Saudi Arabia all assisted in shooting down Iranian missiles and drones. Israel’s ties with each of those countries have deteriorated in the months since amid the ongoing war in Gaza and expanding war against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Sullivan notes the terror attack that also took place tonight in Jaffa, expressing condolence to the victims in addition to the victim of the Iranian missile attack in Jericho.
@The Times of Israel
