Washington: American air defence systems and a US Navy destroyer helped intercept multiple Iranian ballistic missiles targeting Israel on Friday, in response to Israel’s recent airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and senior military leaders, according to US officials.

The US has deployed both Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) systems across the Middle East, both capable of intercepting ballistic missiles. These systems were activated as Iran launched several waves of missile barrages in direct retaliation for Israeli attacks deep inside Iranian territory.

A US Navy destroyer stationed in the eastern Mediterranean also successfully shot down Iranian missiles en route to Israel, a senior US official confirmed.

In addition to interception efforts, the United States is repositioning military resources in the region to bolster its posture amid escalating tensions. The USS Thomas Hudner--a guided-missile destroyer equipped to counter ballistic missile threats--has been ordered to redeploy from the western Mediterranean to the eastern Mediterranean. A second destroyer is also being moved forward to be on standby if requested by the White House.

American fighter aircraft are currently patrolling Middle Eastern airspace to defend US military personnel and installations, while air bases in the region have heightened security protocols.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of ongoing operations, said the Pentagon has been taking precautionary measures in recent days, including voluntary departures of military dependents from regional bases.

Roughly 30,000 US troops are typically stationed in the Middle East, but that number has now risen to about 40,000 amid the current crisis. It briefly peaked at 43,000 in October last year, following heightened hostilities between Israel and Iran, and repeated Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping.

The US Navy has additional assets that could be deployed to the region if needed. The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is currently in the Arabian Sea and remains the only carrier in the vicinity. The USS Nimitz, positioned in the Indo-Pacific, and the USS George Washington, which recently departed from Japan, could be redirected to the Middle East if ordered.

Then-President Joe Biden had surged naval forces to the region in the aftermath of the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel to deter wider involvement by Hezbollah and Iran.

On 1 October 2024, US Navy destroyers fired a dozen interceptors to assist Israel as it came under sustained attack from over 200 Iranian missiles—marking a significant moment of direct military engagement in defence of Israel.