The U.S. Navy has now positioned five ballistic missile defense destroyers in the Mediterranean Sea, all equipped to intercept Iranian ballistic missiles using Standard Missile-3 systems. These include the USS Arleigh Burke, USS Thomas Hudner, USS The Sullivans, USS Paul Ignatius, and USS Oscar Austin. Three of them were already operating in the Eastern Mediterranean. Two more just arrived from Rota, Spain. All five are now in range.
This deployment comes as Iran continues launching missile salvos at Israeli cities. Haifa, Beersheba, Tel Aviv, and Azor have all been hit in recent days. The U.S. destroyers are not just watching. They’ve already intercepted incoming threats. One Navy ship shot down a ballistic missile aimed at Israel. Ground-based U.S. systems, including Patriot and THAAD batteries, also engaged targets.
NEW:
🇮🇱🇺🇲🇮🇷 The United States Navy has deployed 5 ships off the coast of Israel to help intercept Iranian ballistic missiles
This is alongside the many systems Israel already uses to defend itself, including THAAD, David Sling, Arrow-2 and Arrow-3, Patriot, Iron Beam and Iron… pic.twitter.com/5k6SkbOQ45
— Megatron (@Megatron_ron) June 20, 2025
https://news.usni.org/2025/06/20/5-u-s-ballistic-missile-defense-destroyers-now-in-the-mediterranean-sea
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-air-defense-systems-naval-destroyer-help-down-iranian-missiles-fired-at-israel/
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/navy-air-defense-israel-iran/