July 10, 2008 Rice: Will do whatever it takes to defend Israel Play video

(NECN: Tbilisi, Georgia) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday warned that the U.S. will do what's necessary to defend Israel, a day after Iran test-fired nine long- and medium-range missiles.

Rice spoke at a joint news conference with U.S.-backed Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili in capital Tbilisi, where earlier she also met with Georgian opposition politicians and social activists.

"We take very, very strongly our obligation to help our allies defend themselves, and no one should be confused about that," Rice said.

"We also are able to look to the future to a missile defense system that will make it more difficult for Iran to threaten and be bellicose and say terrible things, because their missiles won't work," she added.

Rice's visit had begun with a celebration of US plans to base anti-missile defenses in the Czech Republic and Poland, countries once under the Soviet hand, and a warning from Russia that it may respond with unspecified military action.

The system would place radar interceptors in the Czech Republic, and missiles in Poland.

Russia says that's uncomfortably close, no matter the U.S. assurances that the planned shield is a hedge against Iran.

Russia says the shield is unnecessary.

Iran test-fired nine long- and medium-range missiles on Wednesday during war games that officials say are in response to US and Israeli threats, state television reported.