Middle East

How the US helped Israel intercept Iranian missiles

Washington Post reveals: Patriot, Thaad systems and a US Navy destroyer in action. Hamas: Israeli Iron Dome failure

by Enrico Marro

14 June 2025

Il cielo di Gerusalemme durante l’attacco iraniano.

2' min read

Key points

Hamas: Iron Dome has failed.
Israeli defence systems
Iranian warnings to the US

2' min read

Israel was aided by US air defence systems and a US Navy destroyer to intercept the Iranian missiles launched in response to the Israeli attack against Iran. This was revealed by the Washington Post, citing US officials.

The United States has both ground-based Patriot missile defence systems and ground-to-air Thaad (Terminal High Altitude Air Defense) systems in the Middle East region.

The newspaper also added that US fighter planes are patrolling the skies over the Middle East and that Washington is repositioning its military forces in the region, including naval units.

Hamas: Iron Dome has failed

The leader of Hamas, Izzat al-Risheq, pointed the finger at the failure of the Israeli missile defence systems Iron Dome and David's Sling.

In the statement, shared by local Palestinian news sites, al-Risheq asserts that Israel's sophisticated defences have failed and that the country will 'suffer from a fire that has long ignited among the peoples of the region'.

Israeli defence systems

Iron Dome ('Iron Dome'), operational since 2011, was developed by Rafael for the defence of small towns: it is capable of intercepting medium-velocity rockets and artillery projectiles with ballistic trajectory. The system is equipped with an EL/M-2084 MMR radar from Elta and Tamir missiles from Rafael. Trump wants a similar system for US defence.

David's Sling (formerly called Magic Wand), operational since 2017, is instead a defence system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the American Raytheon: it serves to intercept aircraft, drones, tactical ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.

Both Iron Dome and David's Sling wereco-financed by the United States, to be precise by theObama administration with almost half a billion dollars in total in contributions.

And it cannot be ruled out that the US air defence systems used yesterday to defend Israel against Iranian attacks also play an important role in the functioning of Iron Dome, David's Sling and other Israeli systems.

LA PRESENZA MILITARE USA IN MEDIO ORIENTE

Iranian warnings to the US

Iran meanwhile warns: we will target the regional bases of any country that seeks to defend Israel. This was stated to CNN by a senior Iranian official.

"Iran reserves the right, according to international law, to respond decisively to this regime," the official said. "Any country that attempts to defend the regime from Iranian operations will, in turn, see its bases and regional positions become new targets," he added.

Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, told the UN Security Council that Israeli aggression against Iran was deliberate and fully supported by Washington.

Iravani stressed that Iran 'will not forget that our people lost their lives due to the Israeli attacks conducted with American weapons. These actions amount to a declaration of war'.