The U.S. Secretary of State has issued a clear warning due to regional tensions and attacks on Washington’s positions in the area. The message is straightforward: If the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxy forces attack American positions, the United States will respond decisively to defend itself.
“The United States does not seek conflict with Iran. We do not want this war to widen. But if Iran or its proxies attack U.S. personnel anywhere, make no mistake. We will defend our people, we will defend our security — swiftly and decisively,” Blinken told a U.N. Security Council session on Tuesday.
The U.S. Secretary of State’s warning comes in response to a concerning escalation in recent attacks on American forces in the Middle East. According to the Pentagon spokesperson, at least 10 instances of U.S. forces in Iraq have been targeted since last Tuesday, along with three separate attacks in Syria. These mounting incidents have raised serious concerns within the U.S. government regarding the safety and security of American personnel stationed in the region.
The warning conveys that the United States is prepared to take decisive action to protect its interests and personnel should these attacks continue or escalate further.
The United States, a staunch supporter of Israel, recently exercised its veto power to block a draft resolution related to the conflict. The US argued that the resolution should have explicitly affirmed Israel’s right to self-defence.
Now, the US has introduced a new resolution that expresses sympathy for casualties on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides. This resolution also emphasizes the “inherent right of all states to individual and collective self-defence” while adhering to international legal obligations.
John Kirby, the spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, also expressed deep concern about the possibility of attacks on American troops in the Middle East.
He added, however, that there is no evidence to suggest that any country or group is actively preparing to escalate the conflicts.
