How US destroyed 80 drones, six missiles launched from Iran and Yemen

American forces destroyed more than 80 one-way attack drones and at least six ballistic missiles aimed at Israel from Iran and Yemen, it has emerged.

Iran launched an attack by more than 300 missiles and drones on Israeli territory on Saturday in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Syria on April 1 that killed top Revolutionary Guards commanders.

The attack, mostly launched from inside Iran, caused only modest damage as most were shot down by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system and with help from the United States, Britain, France and Jordan.

US forces, supported by US European Command destroyers, on Saturday and Sunday destroyed destroyed more than 80 Iranian drones, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Monday.

The US is in touch with Iran as well, sending ‘a series of direct communications through the Swiss channel,’ a senior administration official said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also spoke to counterparts including in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan, stressing the need to avoid escalation, the importance of a coordinated diplomatic response, and emphasizing the US will continue to support Israel’s defense.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden is said to be privately fearing a ‘catastrophic escalation’ as Israel draws up plans to retaliate against Iran’s unprecedented 350-missile strike.

A view of a crater on a damaged road, after Iran’s mass drone and missile attack, at a location given as Hermon area, Israel on Sunday

A view of a damaged area, after Iran’s mass drone and missile attack, at a location given as Nevatim Airbase, Israel on Sunday

General Erik Kurilla, the head of the US military command responsible for the region, was dispatched to the region and provided real-time updates, CENTCOM revealed on Monday. Kurilla is also coordinating with the Israelis and other partners.

Washington has deployed additional military assets to the region ‘to bolster regional deterrence efforts and increase force protection for US forces,’ a US defense official said last week.

READ MORE: Israel threatens AIRSTRIKES on Iran as Biden is accused of ‘sleepwalking the US into another catastrophic war’ 

This includes a ballistic missile on its launcher vehicle and seven UAVs destroyed on the ground prior to their launch in areas controlled by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, CENTCOM said in a post on X.

‘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 US military said.

Ahead of the attack, US officials including Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State  Blinken were in ‘constant, ongoing, continuous contact’ with the Israelis, as well as with other countries in the Middle East.

The US goal since the start of the latest round of conflict between Israel and Hamas six months ago has been to prevent it from spiraling into a broader regional conflict, and Washington is keen to lower the temperature in the region.

‘We would not be a part of any response they do,’ the senior administration official said of possible Israeli action after the attack. ‘We would not envision ourselves participating in such an act.’

Israel has meanwhile ‘made clear to us they’re not looking for a significant escalation with Iran,’ but ‘a big question is not only whether, but what Israel might choose to do,’ the official said.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) during a War Cabinet meeting at the Kirya in Tel Aviv on Sunday, April 14

Parts of a missile launched by Iran are found in Amman, Jordan, on Sunday, April 14

Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel with hundreds of drones and missiles marked the culmination of a tense two weeks in which Washington engaged in whirlwind efforts to prepare for the expected violence.

American aircraft and planes downed dozens of drones and missiles when Iran launched the attack on Saturday, after Tehran repeatedly threatened to hit back in response to an Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus that killed two top officers at the beginning of the month.

Senior US officials detailed the role Washington played – both militarily and diplomatically – in countering the attack:

Iran launched a barrage of more than 100 medium-range ballistic missiles, more than 30 land-attack cruise missiles and more than 150 attack drones at Israel, a senior US military official said.

US forces ‘successfully engaged and destroyed more than 80 one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAV) and at least six ballistic missiles intended to strike Israel from Iran and Yemen,’ US Central Command said on Twitter Sunday.

President Joe Biden spent Saturday evening receiving real-time updates in the Situation Room at the White House as the attack unfolded.

‘At one point, we knew there were over 100 ballistic missiles in the sky’ and ‘the results of the defenses of course were unclear until all was said and done,’ a senior administration official said, describing the tense atmosphere.

Drones or missiles vying for targets at undisclosed locations in northern Israel on April 14

A G7 meeting took place on Sunday afternoon as leaders condemned Iran’s air attack on Israel ‘in the strongest terms’

After Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel, near Arad, this is the remains of a rocket booster on Sunday which reportedly injured a seven-year-old child

Israel carried out a strike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus on April 1, killing seven Revolutionary Guards including two generals and prompting warnings from Tehran that it would respond.

Top US officials were pulled aside and informed of details about the strike during a visit by the Israeli ambassador and defense attaché at the White House, the senior administration official said.

‘We were not a part of that strike’ but ‘we knew that that would have repercussions,’ the official said.

A few days later, Biden instructed the government ‘to defend Israel to the maximum extent possible’ and to ensure that all necessary authorities and assets were in place to do so – a directive that sent officials into action.

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