In an interview with the also American network CBS, Jake Sullivan underlined that “what happened on Friday was the beginning and not the end” adding that “there will be more steps, some visible and some, possibly invisible”.
By Athena Papakosta
US military strikes so far against pro-Iranian armed groups in the Middle East are just the beginning, Washington says via Jake Sullivan, White House National Security Advisor. At the same time, the pro-Iranian rebels Houthi they vow retaliation while Iran, condemning the US-British raids in Yemen, warns of the possible targeting of two of its cargo ships.
The whole area has been like a boiling cauldron for weeks. The balances remain fragile and the tones keep rising.
The series of interviews that White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan gave to American media on Sunday added more fuel to the ongoing fire that has been burning in the Middle East since October 7 when the Israel-Hamas war began.
On the one hand, Mr. Sullivan made it clear speaking to NBC that the United States “intends to proceed with additional strikes and additional action” but also to “continue to send a clear message that we will respond when our forces are attacked, when our people are killed”. But on the other hand, he went…fold three times when asked if the US was considering launching raids on Iranian soilwhich would constitute a further escalation that Washington has so far appeared determined to avoid.
In an interview with the also American network CBS, Jake Sullivan underlined that “what happened on Friday was the beginning and not the end” adding that “there will be more steps, some visible and some, possibly invisible”.
Following the deadly attack that killed three US servicemen in Jordan, Washington has unleashed a wave of retaliatory strikes on more than 85 targets linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and Tehran-backed militias while, at the same time, strikes have also been launched at 36 targets of the – also supported by Iran – Houthis in Yemen.
The military spokesman for the pro-Iranian rebels, Yahya Sharia, speaking of 48 strikes, responded that the American and British strikes “will not go unanswered and unpunished” and “will not shake the Houthis’ support for the Palestinian people resisting in Gaza.” .
At the same time, Iran – which has strongly condemned the new strikes by the Americans and the British in Yemen, stressing that they “contradict” their stated desire not to expand the conflict in the Middle East – is sending a warning to Washington about two of its cargo ships.
According to the news agency, The Associated Press (AP), there are suspicions that the ships Behshad and Saviz serve as bases to promote military operations on behalf of the Revolutionary Guards. In fact, as AP reports, the Iranian military in a video statement on Sunday described them as “floating arsenals” with Tehran clarifying that “those who participate in terrorist activities against the Behshad or similar ships endanger international sea routes, the security and assume global responsibility for potential future international risks.”
In this climate that smells of gunpowder, the UN Security Council is meeting in an emergency today, Monday, while the American Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken arrives for the 5th time since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in the region for another round of talks aimed at agreeing on the release of hostages and the provision of humanitarian aid.
Source :Skai
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