US warns of continued threats from Iran and its proxies to Israel

In response to Hezbollah’s firing of multiple rockets and drones over the weekend, the Pentagon said the United States believes the threat of new attacks on Israel by Iran or its proxies remains high.

Iran and its regional allies have threatened to attack Israel in retaliation for recent high-profile assassinations in Tehran and Beirut. Hezbollah has claimed that its recent attack on Israel was a direct response to one of the assassinations.

“We continue to assess that the threat of attack exists, and we remain fully prepared to support Israel’s defense and protect our forces if they are attacked,” Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters.

On Sunday, the Israeli military reported airstrikes against Hezbollah targets deemed an imminent threat. About 100 fighter jets were involved, hitting more than 270 targets, mostly short-range rockets aimed at northern Israel.

Hezbollah leader Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah claimed the Israeli attack came 30 minutes before Hezbollah fired more than 300 Katyusha rockets at 11 Israeli military bases. It was then followed by drone attacks targeting a base near Tel Aviv in retaliation for the assassination of senior commander Fuad Shukur in July.

Ryder clarified that the United States did not engage in preemptive strikes or intercept projectiles, but did provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) support to track Hezbollah’s incoming attacks.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has directed two aircraft carrier strike groups to remain in the region to support Israel. The Pentagon announced last week that the USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying destroyers had arrived in the region. Although initially planned to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt, the two carriers will now remain in the Middle East temporarily under Austin’s orders.

Meanwhile, General Charles “CQ” Brown top U.S. military officers met with Israeli security officials on Monday, including Defense Minister Yoav Galant, who stressed that “Iran’s aggressive behavior has reached an all-time high” and emphasized the need to cooperate in developing and projecting advanced capabilities in all domains.

Brown’s visit to Israel is part of a Middle East tour that also includes visits to Jordan and Egypt.