US, France and Britain Say They Helped Israel During Iran Attack

• Oct. 2, 2024, 6:57 a.m. ET

A number of Israel’s key allies came forward on Wednesday to say they were involved in helping to repel the wave of missiles that Iran launched at Israel overnight.

Israel has said that Iran fired more than 180 missiles in the barrage on Tuesday, but that most were intercepted.

President Biden confirmed on Tuesday that the U.S. military had “actively supported” Israel’s defense in shooting down the waves of incoming missiles, noting that American naval forces stationed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea had done so “at my direction.”

“Make no mistake, the United States is fully, fully, fully supportive of Israel,” Mr. Biden told reporters hours after the attack, praising planning between the two nations in anticipation of the barrage.

Other allies soon followed suit. In a statement late Tuesday evening, John Healy, Britain’s defense minister, said British forces had “played their part in attempts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East.”

“The U.K. stands fully behind Israel’s right to defend its country and its people against threats," he said, thanking “all British personnel involved in the operation for their courage and professionalism.”

Britain’s Ministry of Defense declined to provide further details on what role British forces played or what specific actions they had taken.

The French presidency said on Wednesday that France had “mobilized its military resources” in the Middle East to help Israel counter Iran’s missile attack, but did not provide details.

It said in a statement that President Emmanuel Macron, who convened an overnight defense and security council meeting, condemned the missile barrage while urging Israel to end its military operations in Lebanon, where “too many civilians are already victims.”

On Wednesday, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, warned that any “third party supporting Israel” would face a “strong response,” Iranian state media reported.