On Tuesday, President Joe Biden directed the U.S. military to provide support in defending Israel from Iranian missile attacks, including authorizing the interception of missiles aimed at Israel, according to a statement from the White House.
Both President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who is also the Democratic candidate in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, have been closely monitoring the situation in Iran and Israel from the White House Situation Room.
“President Biden has instructed the U.S. military to assist in Israel’s defense against Iranian aggression and take action to shoot down any missiles targeting the country,” the White House confirmed.
Additionally, a call President Biden had scheduled with rabbis on Tuesday, in preparation for the upcoming Jewish High Holidays—which begin with Rosh Hashanah later this week—has been postponed, a White House official stated.
In the meantime, Hamas expressed support for Iran’s missile attack on Israel, claiming it was retaliation for the deaths of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
“The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) commends the heroic missile strikes carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps against large parts of our occupied lands,” read a statement, which added that the attack was “in revenge for the blood of our brave martyrs.”
This development comes as the United States and other Western allies previously stepped in to defend Israel during a combined Iranian missile and drone assault in April. That attack was launched in response to an Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.
