The US fired about a dozen interceptors at Iranian missiles fired at Israel, the Pentagon said.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan called it a “significant escalation by Iran”.

The Israeli military said about 180 rockets were fired into Israel on Wednesday, most of which were intercepted.

Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian has defended the attack, calling it a “decisive” response “in defense of Iranian interests and citizens.”

In a Pentagon news conference on Tuesday, Major General Patrick Ryder said two US Navy destroyers were used to fire the interceptors at the missiles, all of which the US believed were launched from Iran.

He did not confirm whether they hit any of the Iranian missiles used in the attack – adding that the information had yet to be determined.

He said Tuesday’s attack was about “twice the size” of Iran’s attack in April in terms of the ballistic missiles used.

Major General Ryder added that the Pentagon was not aware of any warning of the attack.

At a separate White House briefing, Mr. Sullivan described the attack as a “significant escalation by Iran,” adding that it was “equally important that we were able to act together with Israel and create a situation where no one was killed. this attack in Israel.”

He added that the US would now consider “appropriate next steps” to safeguard American interests and “promote stability to the greatest extent possible”.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement that the attacks were in response to Israel’s killing of a top IRGC commander and leaders of Iranian-backed militias in the region.

The killings of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoshan in Lebanon last weekend were reported.

Reference was also made to the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July. Although Israel has not admitted to being behind Haniyeh’s death, it is widely believed to be responsible.