New York, US, Sep 29 (EFE).- The United States warned Iran on Sunday that it would take “every necessary measure” in defending its interests in the Middle East.
In a statement, the US Department of Defense and secretary Lloyd Austin said Washington was “determined to prevent Iran” and its “proxies” – including Palestinian group Hamas and Lebanese Shiites Hezbollah – from “exploiting the situation or expanding the conflict.”
Cross-border violence between Israel and Hezbollah – which had been simmering since Israel launched its offensive in Gaza last year – has surged in the past two weeks.
More than 1,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks and bombings in Lebanon since Sep 17, while more than a million have been displaced, according to Lebanese officials.
The Pentagon said Austin and other senior Defense department officials were focused on protecting US citizens and forces in the Middle East, “the defense of Israel, and the de-escalation of the situation through deterrence and diplomacy.”
The statement was released shortly after the Israeli military announced Sunday that it had killed more than 20 members of Hezbollah in Friday’s massive bombing of Beirut, including its top leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and southern front commander Ali Karaki.
An Iranian Revolutionary Guard general, Abbas Nilforushan, was also killed in the attack, a death that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has said “will never go unanswered.” EFE
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