Iran Attacks Israel, US Consults With Allies

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken/PHOTO via Instagram @secblinken

JAKARTA - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it "will consult with allies and partners in the region and around the world within hours and days" after Iran's retaliatory attacks on Israel.

"The United States strongly condemns Iran's attack on Israel," Blinken was quoted as saying by CNN, Sunday, April 14.

"Although we are not trying to escalate, we will continue to support Israel's defense, and as the President explains, we will defend US personnel," he added.

The US is cautious about the high tension between Iran and Israel. US President Joe Biden has decided not to participate in any offensive operations against Iran.

"This affirmation has been conveyed by Joe Biden to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by telephone," a senior government official said as reported by CNN, Sunday, April 14.

The comments were made just moments after Iranian drones began rolling out. Biden and Netanyahu spoke by telephone.

It was also reported that the United States (US) military intercepted more than 70 drones and 3 Iranian-attack ballistic missiles on Israel.

Citing US officials' statement, Iranian ballistic missiles were intercepted by US warships in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Iran launched a total of more than 100 ballistic missiles into Israel, according to a senior US government official, reported by CNN, Sunday, April 14.

The US Navy currently places two destroyers in the region, both of which are guided-missile destroyers capable of intercepting missile and drone launches.

US fighter jets were also part of a response to Iran's attack on Saturday, April 13, and shot down a drone launched at Israel, another US official told CNN.