WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden has directed US forces to aid Israel's defense against Iran, which launched missile attacks against the Jewish state, the White House said on Tuesday.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, US National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris "are monitoring the Iranian attack against Israel from the White House Situation Room & receiving regular updates from their national security team”.

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The US president "directed the US military to aid Israel's defense against Iranian attacks & shoot down missiles targeting Israel," the spokesperson added.

The statement came as Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps said it had targeted Israel with dozens of ballistic missiles.

Earlier in the day, the White House said the US was "actively supporting" Israel's defense against the missile attack from Iran.

"The United States has indications that Iran is preparing to imminently launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel," multiple US media outlets quoted a senior White House official as saying.

"We are actively supporting defensive preparations to defend Israel against this attack. A direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran," the official said.

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The same day, the US embassy in Jerusalem put out a security alert saying it has directed "all US government employees and their family members to shelter in place until further notice”.

The direction is sent to relevant US personnel in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.