John Kirby issues grave warning to Iran to avoid American casualties amid escalating conflict with Israel – hinting at ‘what we would do’ if US troops are targeted
John Kirby said the US has communicated to Iran “what we would do” if US forces or facilities are targeted amid growing conflict in the Middle East.
President Joe Biden’s National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson reiterated that the US has no plans to become involved in counter-attacks on Iran on behalf of ally Israel – but will continue to help defend the Jewish nation.
Amid Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas terrorists in Gaza, some Republican lawmakers are unhappy with the Biden administration’s response so far to the escalating conflict and want an immediate response to last night’s attacks by Iran and its allies.
‘The president has made it clear: we are not seeking a war with Iran. We are not seeking a broader war in the region,” Kirby told NBC host Kristen Welker on Sunday morning.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Sunday that the US has warned Iran of “what we would do” if US forces are targeted in the Middle East, amid an escalating conflict in the region.
Iran and its allies have fired 200 drones and missiles at Israel since Saturday evening – most of which were intercepted outside the country’s airspace.
When pressed by the Meet the Press host on whether Biden has ruled out a direct strike on Iran, Kirby reiterated, “We are not seeking a war with Iran.”
While Kirby says there have been no attacks on U.S. troops, personnel or facilities in the region so far, he claims the White House warned Iran against taking such action after Tehran said it would target U.S. forces if they would help Israel launch counterattacks.
“We remain vigilant for exactly that potential threat, but we have not seen any attacks on U.S. troops or personnel in the region or our facilities and there is nothing to report this morning,” Kirby said.
“But we will of course keep a very, very close eye on that.”
“I would just like to say that we have made it very clear to all parties, including Iran, what we would do and how we would continue to defend Israel, as well as how seriously we would take any potential threat to our personnel and facilities in the region . the NSC spokesperson added.
Iran has launched more than 200 drones and missiles at Israel since Saturday evening, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) said.
The vast majority of attacks were intercepted outside Israeli airspace. But a small number of dozens of Iranian surface-to-surface missiles struck the country, wounding a girl and causing damage to a military installation in the south, Armed Forces spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari said early Sunday.
President Joe Biden gathered with his national security team in the White House Situation Room on Saturday
President Biden had to cut short his weekend in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware to return to Washington, DC
Iran said the strikes were in response to a drone strike in early April in Syria that killed 12 Iranians, including two top generals.
Biden and his Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin have repeatedly said the US will continue to help Israel defend itself against Iranian attacks, but have said Washington will not get involved in counterattacks.
It comes after Iran warned last week that if the US carries out attacks, its forces will target US personnel and facilities in the region.
Biden had to cut short his beach weekend at his vacation home in Rehoboth, Delaware, to deal with the growing conflict.
The president arrived at the beach on Friday, but returned to Washington DC just 21 hours later to meet with his national security and defense teams.