U.S. fighter jets, Navy destroyers, and ground-based defense systems were already in position before the Iranian strikes began, having been deployed to the region last week as reports of a unilateral strike by Israel were breaking.
Iran has warned it will target Israel’s western allies in the region, including bases and ships, if they continue helping the IDF intercept its missile attacks.
“This confrontation will not end with last night’s limited actions and Iran’s strikes will continue, and this action will be very painful and regrettable for the aggressors,” Fars reports, citing senior Iranian military officials warning that the war would “spread in the coming days to all areas occupied by the Israeli regime and American bases in the region.”
Senior White House officials tell the Washington Post the U.S. military is operating in the air, on land and at sea to shoot down Iranian missiles fired at Israel, pulling Washington deeper into the fourth day of fighting.