U.S. air defense systems and a Navy destroyer assisted Israel in intercepting ballistic missiles launched by Iran in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and officials. The U.S. deployed Patriot and THAAD systems in the Middle East, and a destroyer in the eastern Mediterranean intercepted missiles targeting Israel.
As tensions rise, the U.S. is repositioning assets, with the USS Thomas Hudner and another destroyer moving closer to Israel. U.S. fighter jets are patrolling the skies, and air bases are on high alert. U.S. troop levels in the region have grown to 40,000. Additional naval forces, including aircraft carriers like the USS Carl Vinson, USS Nimitz, and USS George Washington, may be redirected if needed. President Trump met with his National Security Council and warned Iran via Truth Social to make a nuclear deal or face greater devastation. He emphasized U.S. military superiority and stated that hardline Iranian officials “are all dead now, and it will only get worse.”
