UNITED STATES- Caribbean-American congresswoman strongly condemns Iran’s ballistic missile strikes against Israel

NEW YORK, CMC – Caribbean-American Democratic Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke on Wednesday condemned “in the strongest possible terms” Iran’s ballistic missile strikes against Israel.

“Thankfully, this assault – reportedly the largest of its kind in history – failed to accomplish its goal of indiscriminate slaughter,” Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC). “The scale of its ineffectiveness stands as proof of the enduring need to support our ally, Israel, with the tools necessary to protect its people and to defend its sovereignty.

“Moreover, it serves as yet another reminder of Iran and its proxies’ propensity for sowing terror and their role as the most significant obstacle to peace and stability in the Middle East,” added Clark, a senior member of both the US House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee and Committee on Homeland Security.

“For the sake of the safety and wellbeing of all innocent peoples of all nations in the region, I urge the United States to stand with our ally as a committed advocate for prioritizing humanity, continue working with allies to establish a lasting ceasefire, secure the safe return of the hostages abducted on October 7, 2023, and persist in the tough challenge of finding the path towards peace,” continued Clarke, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) since elected to the US Congress in 2007 and currently chairs CBC’s Immigration Task Force.

On Tuesday, Iran attacked Israel with a barrage of 181 ballistic missiles, according to the US Department of Defense (DOD).

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Major General Pat Ryder said that while most of those missiles were destroyed before reaching their target, some did impact and cause minimal damage.

“We condemn these reckless attacks by Iran, and we call on Iran to halt any further attacks, including from its proxy forces,” Ryder told a press briefing. “During the attack, the US military coordinated closely with the Israeli Defense Forces to help defend Israel.”

Ryder said Tuesday’s attack was nearly twice the scope of a similar attack on April 13 and 14. On those two occasions, he said, “the US again assisted in defending Israel.”

The US Air Force Major General said two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the USS Cole and USS Bulkeley, both deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean, on Tuesday fired a dozen interceptors at incoming Iranian ballistic missiles as part of defending Israel.

He said initial assessments are that all the missiles fired were launched from Iran, not from proxy states, stating that “Iran did indeed plan to cause a significant amount of harm in Israel.

“You don’t launch that many missiles at a target without the intent of hitting something,” Ryder said. “Just like the last time, they intend to cause destruction. And so, fortunately … Israel has very significant air defense capabilities, and the US, of course, played a role in helping on that front as well.”

He said initial indications are that there was minimal damage on the ground and that “Israel was able to defend itself against the Iranian attack successfully.”

Ryder also said no US personnel were injured or harmed during the Iranian missile attack.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin, III communicated with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at least twice on Tuesday, both before the attack and during the attack, Ryder said.

“He reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad commitment to the defense of Israel and underscored that the US remains well-postured throughout the Middle East region to protect US forces and defend Israel in the face of threats from Iran and Iran-backed terrorist organizations,” Ryder said.