US Declares Iran’s Missile Attack on Israel ‘Defeated and Ineffective’

The White House has confirmed that Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel was largely ineffective, with most of the projectiles intercepted. The attack marks Iran’s second direct strike on Israel this year, following a missile and drone assault in April in response to an Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Jake Sullivan, US National Security Advisor, stated, “Based on what we know at this point, this attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective.” Sullivan also praised US involvement in helping repel the missile barrage, which targeted three military bases near Tel Aviv.

The missile assault, claimed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, came after US intelligence warned of an imminent strike on Israel, with officials promising “severe” repercussions for Tehran. Footage of the attack, aired by Iranian media, showed missiles being launched at Israel, while scenes of celebration broke out in several Iranian cities, including Tehran and Mashhad.

The timing of the attack is significant, as it follows the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, killed in an Israeli strike on Beirut last Friday. Nasrallah, long armed and supported by Iran, was slain alongside General Abbas Nilforoushan, a senior commander in the IRGC’s elite Quds Force. Iran has vowed that their deaths will not go unanswered.

Tuesday’s missile strike underscores growing regional tensions that have intensified since the onset of the Gaza war, where Iran-aligned groups from Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen have become involved. Although Iran has voiced support for Hamas following its October 7 attack on Israel, Tehran has denied direct involvement in the conflict.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking at the UN General Assembly last month, accused Israel of escalating hostilities while claiming that Iran had shown restraint in the face of provocations. However, in a recent statement, Pezeshkian criticized US-led efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza, calling them “false promises” and warning that further concessions to Israel would only embolden further aggression.

Iran, which has not recognized Israel since its 1979 Islamic Revolution, continues to emphasize its support for the Palestinian cause, a key aspect of its foreign policy.