WASHINGTON, April 13 (Reuters) - As well as knocking down drones, the U.S. military has also shot down dozens of Iranian missiles bound for Israel as part of its assistance in defending the close Middle East ally against attack, three U.S. official said late on Saturday.

Two of the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said some of the missiles were shot down by the U.S. Navy.

The U.S. military assistance to Israel came as Iran launched explosive drones and fired missiles at Israel late on Saturday in its first direct attack on Israeli territory, a retaliatory strike that raised the threat of a wider regional conflict. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; editing by Miral Fahmy)