US helps Israel shoot down barrage of Iranian missiles

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US helps Israel shoot down barrage of Iranian missiles

2025-06-14 06:48 Last Updated At：06:51

WASHINGTON (AP) — American air defense systems and a Navy destroyer helped Israel shoot down incoming ballistic missiles Friday that Tehran launched in response to Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and top military leaders, U.S. officials said.

The U.S. has both ground-based Patriot missile defense systems and Terminal High Altitude Air Defense systems in the Middle East capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, which Iran fired in multiple barrages in retaliation for Israel's initial attack.

A Navy destroyer in the eastern Mediterranean Sea also shot down Iranian missiles heading toward Israel, one official said.

The United States also is shifting military resources, including ships, in the Middle East in response to the strikes.

The Navy directed the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner, which is capable of defending against ballistic missiles, to begin sailing from the western Mediterranean Sea toward the eastern Mediterranean and has directed a second destroyer to begin moving forward so it can be available if requested by the White House, U.S. officials said.

American fighter jets also are patrolling the sky in the Middle East to protect personnel and installations, and air bases in the region are taking additional security precautions, the officials said.

The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public or to discuss ongoing operations.

President Donald Trump met with his National Security Council principals Friday to discuss options.

The forces in the region have been taking precautionary measures for days, including having military dependents voluntarily depart regional bases, in anticipation of the strikes and to protect personnel in case of a large-scale response from Tehran.

Typically around 30,000 troops are based in the Middle East, and about 40,000 troops are in the region now, according to a U.S. official. That number surged as high as 43,000 last October amid the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran as well as continuous attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen.

The Navy has additional assets that it could surge to the Middle East if needed, particularly its aircraft carriers and the warships that sail with them. The USS Carl Vinson is in the Arabian Sea — the only aircraft carrier in the region.

The carrier USS Nimitz is in the Indo-Pacific and could be directed toward the Middle East if needed, and the USS George Washington just left its port in Japan and could also be directed to the region if so ordered, one of the officials said.

Then-President Joe Biden initially surged ships to protect Israel, a close U.S. ally, following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas that launched the war in Gaza. It was seen as a deterrent against Hezbollah and Iran at the time.

On Oct. 1, 2024, U.S. Navy destroyers fired about a dozen interceptors in defense of Israel as the country came under attack by more than 200 missiles fired by Iran.

Jorge Polanco, with 1 pitch of first base experience, willing to make move for New York Mets

NEW YORK (AP) — Jorge Polanco's experience at first base consists of one pitch, when San Francisco's Wilmer Flores lined a sinker off the end of his bat toward right field in the ninth inning of a tied game last April 6.

“It's just like they always say, whenever you come into the game, the ball always finds you," Polanco recalled through a translator on Monday. "When the ball was hit, I thought it was coming straight to me."

Flores' hit was way too far toward second for Polanco to have a chance at it, giving San Francisco a walk-off win over Seattle.

First base figures to be Polanco's primary position next year as Pete Alonso's replacement following Polanco's decision to sign a $40 million, two-year contract with the New York Mets.

“I was offering my services to teams as a first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, so when the Mets asked if I was able to do that, play a little bit of first, play a little bit third, I was definitely willing to do that,” Polanco said on a Zoom news conference.

Alonso, a fan favorite and a five-time All-Star, left the Mets as a free agent for a $155 million, five-year contract with Baltimore.

Asked whether he expects first base will be his primary position, Polanco responded: “I would think so. ... They told me that I’d be playing a good amount of first base, but that I could also be bouncing around.”

A 32-year-old switch-hitter who has batted .260 against righties and .270 against lefties, Polanco was an All-Star with Minnesota in 2019 and set career bests two years later when he had 33 homers and 98 RBIs for the Twins.

He was primarily a shortstop through 2020 and then a second baseman from 2020-24. Last season, he started mostly at designated hitter for the Mariners, who came within one win of their first World Series trip.

Mariners bench coach Manny Acta and infield coach Perry Hill approached Polanco this year about preparing for time at first.

“It was very easy because I had already spoken to my agent about starting to work out at first and trying to become a more versatile baseball player,” Polanco said. “So when we approached them, they were essentially approaching us at the same time. So it was real easy and a really seamless transition.”

Polanco hit .265 with 26 home runs, 78 RBIs, 30 doubles and an .821 OPS in 138 games for Seattle last season, his second with the Mariners following a decade with Minnesota.

While he didn't get to start at first, he found work with the coaches invaluable.

“The biggest difference is the position that you get in to receive pickoffs,” he said. “That was the toughest transition for me because it’s very different from when you’re playing in the middle of the infield. But I think with my experience of playing second, short, third, it allows me to be an athlete and I think that my athleticism will help me while I’m playing first base.”

Hours after Polanco spoke with reporters, the Mets announced their deal with reliever Luke Weaver. The former New York Yankees right-hander agreed to a $22 million, two-year contract last week, subject to a successful physical.

“Over the past few seasons Luke has emerged as one of the most reliable leverage relievers in baseball and we’re excited to add him to our (bullpen),” Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns said in a news release. “Luke’s stuff, combined with his experience in high pressure situations in New York, sets him up well for success going forward.”

Weaver gets a $3 million signing bonus, payable upon the contract’s approval by Major League Baseball, and salaries of $8 million next year and $11 million in 2027.

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