The United States wants neither an “escalation” nor an “extended war with Iran,” a White House spokesperson insisted on Sunday, the day after an unprecedented attack by the Islamic Republic on Israel.
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“The president (Joe Biden) has been clear: we do not want escalation. We do not want an extended war with Iran. I think the hours and days to come will tell us a lot,” John Kirby said on American television channel NBC.
Iran launched a massive drone and missile attack overnight from Saturday to Sunday, a first direct attack against Israeli territory which has raised fears of a regional explosion. It was “thwarted” according to the Israeli army, while Iran welcomed what it considers to be a justified response to the strike which destroyed its consulate in Damascus.
“We have made it very clear to all parties, including Iran, what we would do […] and how seriously we would take any potential threat against our personnel” positioned in the Middle East, added John Kirby.
Joe Biden said Saturday evening that US forces helped shoot down “almost all” of the drones and missiles fired by Iran at Israel, adding that he reaffirmed his “unwavering” support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Disagreements have been increasingly visible in recent weeks between Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu, whom the American president blames for the conduct of the war for more than six months in Gaza, hit by a humanitarian tragedy and threatened with large-scale famine.
“We will continue to work with him, to advise him,” assured John Kirby, reaffirming that the United States would “continue to help (the Israelis) defend themselves.”