Comment on A top US security official says America will make sure Iran faces 'severe consequences' for escalating its conflict with Israel

Iran launched a ballistic missile barrage against Israel.REUTERS/Amir CohenThe US said that Iran will face "severe consequences" for its missile attack on Israel.Israel said that Iran fired 180 ballistic missiles at it on Tuesday, most of which were intercepted.Iran said the attack was retaliation for Israel's assassination of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.The US has promised "severe consequences" for Iran after it launched a massive ballistic missile strike on Israel on Tuesday.The Israel Defense Forces said that Iran fired 180 missiles at Israel in what Iran called a retaliatory attack for the recent assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders."This is a significant escalation by Iran, a significant event," US national security advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters in a White House press conference on Tuesday."We have made clear that there will be consequences, severe consequences for this attack, and we will work with Israel to make that the case," Sullivan added.Announcing the attack, the Israel Defense Forces said on Telegram on Tuesday that "a short while ago, missiles were launched from Iran towards the State of Israel."In an X post, it said that "all Israeli civilians are in bomb shelters as rockets from Iran are fired at Israel."After the attack, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement: "Iran made a big mistake tonight — and it will pay for it."Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday night that the US would help defend Israel and called the strike an "outrageous act of aggression."Sullivan echoed the words of another senior White House official, who told Business Insider before the attack that the US had seen "indications" of an attack against Israel."We are actively supporting defensive preparations to defend Israel against this attack," the anonymous official told BI.