For more on Israel's goals and what comes next, we're joined now by the Israeli ambassador

to the U.S. Jahil Leiter.

Ambassador Leiter, welcome back to the News Hour.

Thank you for joining us.

Thank you, Amn.

It's good to be with you.

I want to begin by asking you about the latest.

We're seeing the extraordinary Iranian missile attacks unfolding over Tel Aviv at this moment. As we speak, what can you tell us

about the latest on the ground? What kind of damage has been inflicted so far in Israel?

Well, we know at present there are 35 people injured right outside of Tel Aviv. Too critically.

We're praying for their survival. Iran has a very large array of ballistic

missiles. They have fired them in the past, both in April and in October. At that time, we were able to

intercept them. Several have gotten through this time, a total of

85 in this barrage. These are huge missiles. And we do have sustained injuries.

U.S. official said today that the U.S. military is helping to intercept some of those Iranian missiles.

Are you expecting U.S. forces to participate more deeply than that when it comes to defending Israel?

Is that something that Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump spoke about today?

The United States has had our back, both in April and October.

There are anti-aircraft missiles that have been set in the Middle East to help support our Iron Dome system.

This is a barrage of dozens of missiles all at the same time, and it needs a support system.

And we're very, very thankful for the defensive posture that the United States has taken now

for a third time in helping to prevent these missiles from exacting dramatic damage on our

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