JERUSALEM. Following a series of retaliatory strikes over the weekend, the United States issued a stern warning to Iran and the militias it supports. The U.S. cautioned that it would conduct additional attacks if American forces in the Middle East continue to be targeted. However, it emphasized a reluctance for an “open-ended military campaign” across the region.
President Joe Biden’s National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, stated, “We are prepared to deal with anything that any group or any country tries to come at us with.” Sullivan also delivered a message to Iran, indicating that a “swift and forceful response” awaits if Iran directly responds against the U.S., rather than through its proxies.
The warnings were conveyed by Sullivan in a series of interviews with TV news shows after the U.S. and Britain targeted 36 Houthi sites in Yemen on Saturday. These strikes were in response to repeated attacks by Iran-backed militants on American and international interests following the Israel-Hamas war.
The recent air assault in Iraq and Syria on Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard was a retaliation for a drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan. Sullivan acknowledged the potential for future attacks and affirmed the readiness of U.S. forces to respond accordingly.
Attributing the attack on the Tower 22 base in Jordan to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iranian-backed militias, the U.S. holds Iran responsible. Iran, however, distances itself from the incident, stating that the militias act independently.
While emphasizing that President Biden does not seek a broader war, Sullivan warned of a swift response if Iran escalates directly against the United States. He stated, “We intend to take additional strikes and additional action to continue to send a clear message that the United States will respond when our forces are attacked or our people are killed.”
The recent U.S. strikes targeted over 85 locations in Iraq and Syria, including command and control headquarters, intelligence centers, and storage sites connected to militias or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force.
Despite the ongoing tensions, Sullivan clarified that the U.S. military has no confirmation of civilian casualties from the strikes. He stated, “What we do know is that the targets we hit were absolutely valid targets from the point of view of containing the weaponry and the personnel that were attacking American forces.”
Addressing the threat posed by Houthi rebels, U.S. strikes in Yemen targeted six provinces held by the rebels. Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree vowed that the attacks would not deter Yemeni forces from supporting Palestinians against the “Zionist occupation.”
Amidst rising tensions, Iran warned the U.S. against potentially targeting two cargo ships suspected of serving as bases for Iranian commandos. The ships, Behshad and Saviz, have long been a source of concern, with Iran cautioning that attacks on them would jeopardize international maritime routes.
The situation remains tense as the U.S. signals its determination to respond to further attacks while Iran issues warnings against actions targeting its interests in the region. The international community closely watches developments in the volatile Middle East.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
