By Efe Ozkan
ISTANBUL (AA) - The US, UK and France put to work their military assets in the region to defend Israel against Iranian missile attack on Tuesday, according to reports.
The UK and France stated that they had been involved in the air defense of Israel, not giving specific details to the extent of their involvement. UK Premier Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron stated their involvement was similar to the contribution provided against Iran’s missile attacks in April.
The British Air Force regular "Operation Shader" squadron, composed of two fighter jets and a refueling tanker, was over Iraq during the Iranian attack on Israel, presumably intercepting missiles and returned to the British base of Akrotiri, Southern Cyprus, according to flight radar data and British media reports.
In a press release following the attack, Macron stated: “Committed to Israel's security, France today mobilized its military resources in the Middle East to counter the Iranian threat.”
“We have an airbase in Jordan... Jordanian airspace was violated by these shots. We scrambled our planes and intercepted what we were supposed to intercept,” Macron said in April, detailing the French response to the Iranian attacks at the time. Responding similarly, French planes and air defenses in Jordan may have played a part in the Israeli defense, according to reports.
A US response was confirmed, as countermeasures were launched to the Iranian missiles.
“Two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the USS Cole and USS Bulkeley, both deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean, fired a dozen of interceptors at incoming Iranian ballistic missiles as part of defending Israel,” said Pentagon press secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
Naval deployments to the region are commencing as France confirmed the deployment of at least 2 La Fayette-type frigates to the Israeli coast in case of escalation.
Iran fired around 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday evening amid heightened tensions between the two regional arch-rivals in what Tehran has said was an "act of self-defense," while Tel Aviv has vowed vengeance over the salvo.