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'We helped Israel take down nearly all of the drones and missiles': Biden vows US support for Israel

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This video screengrab from AFPTV shows explosions lighting up the sky in Hebron, Palestinian Territories, during an Iranian attack on Israel. Iran's Revolutionary Guards confirmed early on 14 April 2024 that a drone and missile attack was under way against Israel in retaliation for a deadly drone strike on its Damascus consulate. (AFPTV/AFP)
This video screengrab from AFPTV shows explosions lighting up the sky in Hebron, Palestinian Territories, during an Iranian attack on Israel. Iran's Revolutionary Guards confirmed early on 14 April 2024 that a drone and missile attack was under way against Israel in retaliation for a deadly drone strike on its Damascus consulate. (AFPTV/AFP)
  • Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel.
  • The US assisted in repelling the attack.
  • G7 leaders will meet to coordinate a response.


US President Joe Biden said on Saturday that US forces helped take down "nearly all" the drones and missiles fired by Iran at Israel, adding that he had reaffirmed his "ironclad" support to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Biden added in a statement that he would convene his fellow leaders of the G7 group of wealthy nations on Sunday to coordinate a "united diplomatic response" to Iran's "brazen" attack.

"Iran - and its proxies operating out of Yemen, Syria and Iraq - launched an unprecedented air attack against military facilities in Israel. I condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms," Biden said.

He said he had ordered US military aircraft and ballistic missile defence destroyers to the Middle East in recent days as the likely Iranian threat to the key US ally became clear.

"Thanks to these deployments and the extraordinary skill of our servicemembers, we helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles," Biden said.

READ | US vows 'ironclad' support for Israel against Iran attack

Biden added that he had spoken to Netanyahu to "reaffirm America's ironclad commitment" to Israel's security.

"I told him that Israel demonstrated a remarkable capacity to defend against and defeat even unprecedented attacks - sending a clear message to its foes that they cannot effectively threaten the security of Israel," he said.

No US forces or facilities had come under attack from Iran, he said.

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