White House says first response to Jordan drone strike will NOT be last as it prepares for ‘weeks’ of strikes and blames Islamic Resistance in Iraq for ‘facilitating’ killing of three American troops

The Biden administration is preparing a wave of strikes and cyber attacks that could last “weeks” in response to the Iran-backed drone strike that killed three US troops in Jordan.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby made repeated comments Wednesday about the duration of the coming U.S. response, preparing the public for a response that he made clear would be more than a one-off.

“The first thing you see won’t be the last,” Kirby said.

“We will do what we need to do to ensure those responsible are held accountable,” he vowed.

He also went further than before in crediting the broader group that U.S. intelligence believes carried out the attack.

“We believe that the attack in Jordan was planned, financed and facilitated by an umbrella group called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which includes several groups, including Kata’ib Hezbollah.”

But he hesitated to make definitive statements. “This certainly has the hallmarks of the kind of things that Kata’ib Hezbollah does.”

“The attribution that the intelligence community is comfortable with has been made by the umbrella group called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” Kirby said.

U.S. officials have given public and private signals that the operation they are planning will be multi-faceted.

Officials told NBC The news that it will include Iranian targets outside Iran and would consist of both attacks and cyber operations.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said it will be “layered” and the White House has said it will be “layered.”

Potential targets reportedly include Iranian commercial interests and proxy groups with forces in Iraq and Syria.

It is believed that President Biden is not planning attacks on Iran’s territory, despite the insistence of some Republicans in Congress.

President Joe Biden has said he has decided how the US will respond to the drone strike that killed three US troops in Jordan. His government has put forward a “layered” and “layered” response

Biden told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that he has decided on a response, but his administration has not yet unveiled any plans and said the US will respond at a time and place of its choosing.

“I hold them responsible in the sense that they are providing the weapons to the people who did it,” Biden said at the White House when asked whether he holds Iran responsible.

Asked whether he held Tehran directly responsible, he said: “We will have those conversations.”

But he also warned: “I don’t think we need a wider war in the Middle East, that’s not what I’m looking for.”

On Tuesday evening, Iran’s U.N. envoy Amir Saeid Iranavani told reporters that providing a “strong response to enemies” attacking the country is “Iran’s fundamental policy,” according to a report in the state-controlled Islamic Republic News Agency.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US response to the drone strike that killed three US troops will be ‘multi-level’

Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iranani has said Iran will retaliate against attacks on its interests

Biden says he holds Iran responsible for supplying weapons to militia behind attack as he faces monumental decision on how to hit back

“It’s entirely possible that you’ll see a multi-layered approach here – not just a single action, but potentially multiple actions,” national security spokesman John Kirby said.

He promised a “decisive response” to attacks on “Iranian territory, or its interests or citizens abroad.” He claimed in a letter to the UN Security Council that Iran “is not responsible for the actions of any individual or group in the region” – despite the US pointing to decades of support for proxy groups that carry out attacks and for weapons depend on Tehran. , funds and training.

Blinken added Monday: “We will respond decisively to any aggression, and we will hold those who attacked our troops accountable.” That response could be multi-level, staged and sustained over time.”

Aboard Air Force Once, national security spokesman John Kirby gave only an outline of what was being considered. ‘It’s entirely possible that you’ll see a multi-layered approach here – not just a single action, but potentially multiple actions.’

The Pentagon and White House have pointed to the Iran-backed militia Kata’ib Hezbollah, which is based in Iraq, but have not yet made a final public decision.

The group’s Secretary General Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi said in a statement on Tuesday: “While we announce the suspension of military and security operations against the occupying forces – to avoid embarrassing the Iraqi government – we will thank our people continue to defend Gaza in other ways.”

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said at a security forum in San Diego that he told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a meeting in Thaland that China had an “obligation” to use its influence over Tehran to to get the Houthi rebels to stop attacking commercial shipping. interests in the Red Sea.

Biden plans to travel to Dover Air Base on Friday to attend the dignified handover ceremony for the return of the three US troops.