From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
US’s Sullivan: ‘There will be severe consequences’ for Iran’s attack; ‘we will work with Israel to make that the case’
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says Iran’s missile attack against Israel “appears to have been defeated and ineffective.”
“This is a significant escalation by Iran, a significant event. We have made clear that there will be consequences, severe consequences, for this attack, and we will work with Israel to make that the case,” Sullivan says during a press briefing at the White House.
Pressed on what that response might look like, Sullivan says the US has already begun discussing the issue with Israel and that those conversations will continue, but he declines to offer additional details.
Sullivan says Iran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel in tonight’s attack, and that US naval destroyers joined Israeli air defense units in firing interceptors that shot down inbound missile.
US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris monitored the attack from the White House Situation Room with their national security aides.
The US is still working to assess the damage of the attack but currently believes the only casualty was a Palestinian man reportedly killed in the West Bank city of Jericho, Sullivan adds.
“This is a significant escalation by Iran,” Sullivan emphasizes, “and it is equally significant that we were able to step up with Israel and create a situation in which no one was killed in this attack in Israel.”
“We are now going to look at what the appropriate next steps are to secure first and foremost American interests and then to promote stability — to the maximum extent possible — as we go forward,” he says.
Hailing the apparent success in thwarting the attack, Sullivan says this is thanks primarily to the IDF’s professionalism but also “the skilled work of the US military and meticulous joint planning in anticipation of the attack.”
“We are proud of the actions that we’ve taken alongside Israel to protect and defend Israel,” Sullivan says.
Sullivan also notes the terror attack that took place tonight in Jaffa, expressing condolence to the victims in addition to the victim of the Iranian missile attack in Jericho.
