Biden watched in real time in Situation Room as more than 300 drones and ... trends now

American officials breathed a sign of relief on Saturday night when they realized their preparations to help Israel, made over the past 10 days, had paid off and Iran had been thwarted.

President Joe Biden and his team were mindful the attack from Tehran 'could have caused an uncontrollable escalation abroad regional conflict, something we have worked day and night to avoid,' a senior administration told reporters in a briefing on Sunday.

Biden and his team watched - in real time in the White House Situation Room - as Iran sent over 300 aerial attacks into Israel. At one point, Tehran fired over 100 ballistic missiles at the same time, leading to a tense moment among the Americans, who said the level of force was at the 'high end' of what they expected.

'He was in the Situation Room getting real time updates, as this unfolded, including at the time of missile launches,' the official said of Biden, adding 'there was a bit of a relief, which you can imagine those tense moments,' when it was clear the attack was thwarted.

Two squadrons of U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and anti-missile defenses shot from two U.S. aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean Sea helped Israeli defenses war off the attack, which left minimal damage.

'The United States enabled Israel to spectacularly defeat this unprecedent attack,' the U.S. official said, pointing out that 'President Biden is the first American President to directly defend Israel.'

APRIL 1 - THE INCIDENT IN SYRIA

A missile attack in Damascus, Syria, destroyed Iran's consulate building in the city and killed seven Revolutionary Guards, including the two generals.

Tel Aviv has not taken responsibility for the attack but Israel is believed to be behind it.

Israel has long targeted Iran's military installations in Syria and those of its proxies. 

APRIL 5 - PREPARATIONS BEGIN 

Biden  and his team starting preparations to help its Middle East ally.

Ten days ago, Biden ordered his team to 'defend Israel to the maximum extent possible,' a U.S. official said on Sunday.

That included beefing up America's military presence in the Middle East and continuous conversations between U.S. and Israeli officials.  

APRIL 10 - IRAN VOWS RETALIATION

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in  an Eid al-Fitr speech, vowed retribution in the wake of the Damascus attack, for which Tel-Aviv has yet to take responsibility.

'When they attack the consulate, it is as if they have attacked our soil,' he said. 'The evil regime made a mistake and must be punished and it shall be.'

President Biden is hosting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for a state visit.

On the sidelines of that visit by one of America's top Asian allies, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan briefed the president on the possibility for additional U.S. military deployments, including a digital missile destroyer, which Biden immediately authorized.

APRIL 12 - REPORTS OF 'IMMINENT' ATTACK

Reports indicate an attack on Israel is 'imminent.'

Asked how imminent an attack on Israel may be, Biden said he didn't want to get into classified information but 'my expectation is sooner than later.' 

H is message to Tehran was 'don't.' 

'We are devoted to the defense of Israel. We will support Israel and help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed,' Biden said.

APRIL 13 - DAY OF ATTACK

U.S. officials said they were not given a direct head's up from Iran the attack was coming but still, Biden left his beach home in Rehoboth, Delaware, on Saturday afternoon amid fears an attack was imminent. 

He and his team watched the attack in real time in the White House Situation Room. 

At 9 p.m. ET Saturday night Biden spoke with

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