Pentagon Press Secretary Air Power Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder holds a press convention on the Pentagon on October 19, 2023 in Arlington, Va.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photographs
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Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photographs
Pentagon Press Secretary Air Power Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder holds a press convention on the Pentagon on October 19, 2023 in Arlington, Va.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photographs
The Pentagon stated it shot down missiles fired from Yemen and doubtlessly headed in opposition to Israel. The file got here only a day after U.S. troops have been attacked in Iraq and Syria, stoking fears of a regional growth of the war between Israel and Hamas. The united statesCarney, which is lately stationed within the Northern Pink Sea, effectively intercepted 3 cruise missiles and several other drones that have been introduced through Houthi forces in Yemen, in step with Air Power Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon’s press secretary. No person was once injured within the incident. Talking to newshounds on Thursday, Ryder stated the Pentagon was once nonetheless operating to decide the guns’ meant goal, however instructed newshounds they have been heading north and “doubtlessly in opposition to objectives in Israel.” Protection analysts and army officers imagine the Houthis have medium-range ballistic missiles able to attaining Israel, greater than 1,300 miles away.
The Carney is supplied with quite a lot of missile protection programs, although the Pentagon hasn’t stated which machine was once used to wreck the missiles. The incident may constitute the primary photographs taken through the U.S. army in protection of Israel because the nation was once attacked through the Palestinian militant team on Oct. 7.
With regional tensions proceeding to upward push, the U.S. has been on top alert for process from Iranian proxy teams just like the Houthis. A number of armed teams aligned with Iran have vowed to focus on U.S. army bases within the Heart East if it intervened in an anticipated Israeli flooring invasion of Gaza. The Carney’s protection movements got here only a day after 3 separate drone assaults centered U.S. air bases in Iraq and Syria. Two of the assaults led to “minor accidents” to coalition forces, Ryder instructed the clicking on Thursday. Right through the 3rd, at Al Assad air base in western Iraq, an American contractor had a cardiac episode and died. Ryder characterised the incidents as a transparent “uptick” in drone process in opposition to the U.S., however stated the Pentagon was once nonetheless operating to decide whether or not the incidents have been hooked up to Iran-backed teams. It is unclear if the U.S. will retaliate.
“It is our goal to steer clear of any regional growth of Israel’s war with Hamas,” Ryder stated. “However we stand in a position and ready to shield our companions and our pursuits, and we can act to take action.” He added that the Pentagon didn’t take the collection of assaults on U.S. bases as a reason why to imagine the Israel-Hamas war had grown to incorporate further Iran allies. Iran has lengthy equipped toughen for Hamas within the type of coaching and ammunition, however the U.S. has stated there is not any transparent proof that Iran was once immediately concerned within the Oct. 7 assault on Israel.
President Biden has again and again warned Iran and its regional allies to not escalate tensions through getting concerned. He is reinforced U.S. posture within the area through deploying a number of warships, airplane carriers and marines to the world, but in addition made transparent that he does no longer intend for the U.S. to develop into immediately concerned militarily. NPR’s Tom Bowman contributed reporting.
