“I do maintain them accountable within the sense that they’re supplying the weapons to the individuals who did it,” Biden mentioned as he left for marketing campaign occasions in Florida. “I don’t suppose we’d like a wider conflict within the Center East. That’s not what I’m in search of.”
The remarks have been Biden’s first since Sunday after information broke concerning the weekend drone strike launched by Iranian proxies on a U.S. base in Jordan that killed three troops and wounded dozens extra. Biden spoke briefly on the time, saying the U.S. “shall reply.” He then spent a lot of Monday huddling together with his nationwide safety staff, weighing choices for a response.
In a while Tuesday, information surfaced that Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group in Iraq,
was halting operations against the U.S.
“Actions converse louder than phrases,” Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder advised reporters when requested for remark, including “there might be penalties.”
The U.S. has but responsible a selected group for the assault, however on Monday, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh advised reporters that the drone assault had “the footprints” of Kataib Hezbollah.
On Tuesday morning, Biden spoke with every of the three troopers’ households, the place he supplied condolences and assist, Nationwide Safety Council spokesperson John Kirby advised reporters. Biden is planning to attend these troopers’ dignified switch at Dover Air Pressure Base on Friday, in any case three of the households gave their permission.
The White Home has refused to specify what decisions have been offered to Biden, vowing solely to reply forcefully by itself schedule. But
among the many prospects, officers advised POLITICO, have been hanging Iranian personnel in Syria or Iraq or Iranian naval property within the Persian Gulf.
White Home officers have additionally careworn that, even because the U.S. is obligated to retaliate, there’s little urge for food for escalating the already tense scenario throughout the area.
“We don’t search one other conflict. We don’t search to escalate,” Kirby mentioned Monday. “However we are going to completely do what’s required.”
Lara Seligman and Jonathan Lemire contributed to this report.
