Biden directs US military to shoot down Iranian missiles targeting Israel: White House

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Joe Biden ordered the US military to shoot down Iranian ballistic missiles targeting Israel, the White House said Tuesday after an Iranian salvo was launched on Israel.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris "are monitoring the Iranian attack against Israel from the White House Situation Room and receiving regular updates from their national security team," the White House said in a statement.

"President Biden directed the U.S. military to aid Israel’s defense against Iranian attacks and shoot down missiles that are targeting Israel," it added.

A senior White House official earlier told Anadolu that Iran would face "severe consequences" if it carried out the attack, which the US raised the alarm over earlier Tuesday.

Israeli Army Radio confirmed that rockets recently fell in open areas in Netanya, located in the Hod Hasharon district that is part of the greater Tel Aviv area. The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that explosions were heard in parts of the district, although further details were not provided.

Israel’s Home Front Command said sirens sounded across the lower and central Galilee, warning of rocket fire.

In a preliminary statement, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG) said the attack was in response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoshan.

Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran last month. Nasrallah was assassinated in Beirut on Friday along with Nilforoshan.

The guard corps warned that if Israel responds to the missile barrage, it will face more “crushing attacks.”

It further said the attack was being carried out with the support of the army and the Defense Ministry.

Tensions have been running high between Tehran and Tel Aviv since the assassination of Haniyeh in the Iranian capital on Aug. 1. Iran had blamed it on Israel and vowed a stern response.

The assassination of Nasrallah, a key ally of Iran, in an Israeli airstrike in a southern suburb of Beirut was followed by strong condemnation from Iran’s top leadership.

It is not yet known whether the missiles fired towards Israel struck their targets and if there are any casualties or damages.​​​​​​​