US 'sends giant USS Bataan warship toward Middle East' after Iran's drone attack on Israel

The amphibious USS Bataan warship was reportedly leading the US's response to Iran's attack on Israel, although there were also several guided missile destroyers already in the Eastern Mediterranean

The US army has reportedly ordered its mega USS Bataan assault ship to move into the Mediterranean Sea, as tensions rise between the States and Iran.

The move came immediately after Iran launched about 100 drone strikes toward Israel on Saturday night. Explosions were heard across Israel's main cities shortly after midnight (UK time), including in Jerusalem, Haifa, and Tel Aviv.

The USS Bataan and its two support ships could hold up to 2,500 US Marines. The amphibious warship was reportedly leading the US's response to Iran's attack, although there were also several guided missile destroyers already in the Eastern Mediterranean.

US bases in Iraq were also put on full alert, and were prepped to shoot down any drones aimed toward Israel, according to the Daily Mail.

President Joe Biden also rushed back to the White House from a Delaware weekend getaway, in order to launch a national security meeting on the attack.

The 840-foot-long USS Bataan was capable of carrying several aircrafts, including Harrier and Lightning fighters. It's also loaded with four missile launchers, three chain guns, and four .50 machine guns.

It's also not the first time the USS Bataan has been deployed toward Iran. In 2020, the Bataan was positioned toward the Middle East and placed on standby after a US operation killed a top Iranian military leader.

Meanwhile, US forces downed some Iran-launched attack drones flying toward Israel, according to a US defense official and two US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter.

The defense official said the effort to intercept the attack was continuing. Booms and air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem early Sunday after Iran launched dozens of drones and ballistic missiles toward Israel in an unprecedented revenge mission.

The attack marked the first time Iran has launched a direct military assault on Israel, despite decades of enmity dating back to the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution. Condemnation was swift, with France saying that "Iran has crossed a new threshold with regard to its destabilizing activities and is risking a potential military escalation." Britain called the attacks "reckless."

There was no immediate word from authorities on whether the explosions were an incoming attack or interceptions by air defense. Air raid sirens were reported in numerous places including northern Israel, southern Israel, the northern West Bank and the Dead Sea near the Jordanian border. Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service said there were no reports of casualties.

Israel's military said over 100 drones had been fired. It didn't mention ballistic missiles, which are less easily shot down, but Iran said they were part of the attack. The US, with its large troop presence in the region, said it would provide unspecified support to Israel.