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U.S ,Israel ,Iran 

The weekend saw a historic first for the US Navy's ballistic missile defense capabilities. In response to a large-scale missile attack launched by Iran against Israel, American guided-missile destroyers deployed the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) system in a combat situation for the first time.

According to defense officials cited by USNI News, the destroyers USS Arleigh Burke and USS Carney fired a number of SM-3s, estimated between four and seven, to intercept incoming Iranian ballistic missiles. This marks a significant development for the SM-3 program, which has undergone extensive testing but never seen actual combat use.

The Iranian attack, reportedly launched in retaliation for an Israeli strike on an Iranian embassy in Syria, included a barrage of missiles and drones. Israel's defense forces claim to have intercepted a staggering 99% of the incoming threats, with US Navy's SM-3s contributing significantly to this success.

The use of SM-3s suggests that Iran may have employed some of its medium-range ballistic missiles in the attack. These missiles, with a range of up to 1800 miles, fall within the interception capabilities of the SM-3 system.

This first combat deployment of the SM-3 is sure to be extensively analyzed by military experts and world leaders alike. The effectiveness of the system in this real-world scenario will likely influence future defense strategies and international relations.