The Pentagon said US warships fired around a dozen interceptors to help defend Israel from the massive Iranian barrage.

JERUSALEM — Iran fired a barrage of ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday evening in a major attack with little advance warning, sending Israelis scrambling for shelter as the security cabinet convened in a bunker and the United States readied forces to come to Israel’s defense.

The U.S. Sixth Fleet guided missile destroyers USS Cole (DDG 67) and USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) successfully engaged and intercepted multiple Iranian ballistic missiles launched toward Israel on Tuesday, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM) Operating from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea,