New videos show a US Navy warship firing interceptors to fend off Iranian ballistic missiles fired at Israel

• US Navy destroyers fired interceptors on Tuesday to protect Israel from Iran's ballistic missile attack.

• A new video shows one of the destroyers – the USS Bulkeley – launching its interceptors.

• A Navy spokesman said it was believed several missiles had been “successfully fired.”

New video footage shared by the US Navy shows an American destroyer firing interceptors to attack Iranian ballistic missiles fired at Israel on Tuesday.

Capt. Bill Urban, a spokesman for U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, said in a statement Wednesday that two destroyers operating in the eastern Mediterranean had used multiple Iranian missiles to defend Israel.

The ships involved Tuesday were the USS Cole and the USS Bulkeley. The destroyers are equipped with the advanced Aegis Combat System, designed for ballistic missile defense.

“It is believed that multiple missiles were successfully deployed at this time,” Urban said in a Navy statement shared with Business Insider, which also included footage of Bulkeley firing interceptor missiles.

Iran fired more than 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday, in what Tehran said was retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Friday and the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in July.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, said much of the missiles were intercepted by Israel and a U.S.-led defense coalition.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the US military had been “coordinating closely” with Israel to defend the country against the massive attack. He said American destroyers joined Israeli air defense units in firing interceptors to shoot down incoming missiles.

Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder identified the destroyers as Cole and Bulkeley. He said they fired about a dozen interceptors against the incoming Iranian missiles.

It is the second time in less than six months that the US military has defended Israel from an Iranian missile attack. Tehran fired more than 300 missiles and drones in April, a handful of which were intercepted by American forces.

The US has repeatedly said it will protect Israel and its own forces in the Middle East from any attack by Iran or its regional proxies.

Beyond the Cole and Bulkeley, the US has additional naval assets in the Eastern Mediterranean and around the Middle East for such scenarios – more than in the spring. The Pentagon also has significant air forces in the region, and additional forces have been on the move since Tuesday.

Some of the Iranian missiles fired on Tuesday hit Israeli air bases, although the massive barrage did not appear to cause significant damage. Senior US officials, including Vice President Kamala Harris, said Israel – with American support – managed to repel the attack.

Israel has promised to respond to the attack; It Iran was hit directly after the unprecedented bombing in April and has suggested that this could be the case again this time.

“Iran’s attack is a serious and dangerous escalation. There will be consequences,” Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman, said on Tuesday. “We will respond wherever, whenever and however we want, in accordance with the direction of the Israeli government.”

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