On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled Israel's airstrikes against Iran as a sovereign military action, removing Washington from any role in the raging confrontation between two regional foes.
Rubio responded to Israel's extensive aerial attack on Iranian soil in the early hours of Friday morning—a move that has critically escalated the already volatile situation in the Middle East and injected fears of a wider war.
"Tonight, Israel acted unilaterally against Iran. We have nothing to do with attacks against Iran and our highest priority is the protection of American forces in the region.". Israel informed us that they feel this step was in its defense. President Trump and the Administration have done everything necessary to safeguard our forces and stay in close coordination with our regional allies. To be unequivocal: Iran should not attack U.S. interests or personnel," stated Rubio.
Following the Israeli offensive, the United States Department of State released a security advisory to U.S. citizens living in or visiting Israel, cautioning against the situation's volatility.
Because of heightened tensions in the Middle East, the security situation remains unpredictable and is subject to shift suddenly. We remind US citizens in Israel and the surrounding region of the ongoing need for prudence and urge them to keep an eye on the news for up-to-the-minute developments," the department tweeted from its official X account.
Just hours before the Israeli attacks, U.S. President Donald Trump spoke on the issue at a press conference, saying he wanted to steer clear of a military escalation.
"I don't want them going in because, I mean, that would blow it," Trump said, referring to his administration's persistent diplomacy focused on keeping Iran from pursuing nuclear ambitions.
The President reaffirmed America's preference for diplomacy in addressing the nuclear problem with Tehran.
We are committed to a Diplomatic Solution to the Iran Nuclear Problem! My whole Administration has been tasked with making a deal with Iran. They can be a Great Nation, but they first need to entirely abandon aspirations of acquiring a Nuclear Weapon. Thank you for your consideration!" Trump posted on Truth Social.
The Israeli military intervention comes in the wake of increased anxiety in Jerusalem about Iran's nuclear power, which it sees as a threat to its national security.
In a televised address to the nation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his government had undertaken what he called a "targeted military action to reverse the Iranian threat to the very existence of Israel."
'This operation will last as long as it takes to finish the mission of countering the threat of annihilation that confronts us," Netanyahu declared, emphasizing the existential threat emanating from Iran.".
At the same time, Iranian state media said powerful blasts shook different districts of Tehran in the early hours of Friday. Though the source of the blasts remains to be confirmed, there is widespread speculation that the Israeli attack targeted strategic military or nuclear-related facilities.
State television IRIB reported that as investigations were underway, circumstances point very strongly to the possibility that sensitive infrastructure was the target of the attack.
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