:strip_icc():format(jpeg)/kly-media-production/medias/4620699/original/014014900_1698048738-20231023-Demo_Palestina-AP_4.jpg "The United States is ready to respond if it becomes the target of the Hamas-Israel war.")
Liputan6.com, Washington – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Sunday (10/22/2023) that they expected an escalation of the war between Hamas and Israel through the involvement of Iranian proxies.
Both stressed that the United States is prepared to respond if its personnel or armed forces become targets of hostilities.
“That’s not what we wanted, what we were looking for. We don’t want escalation,” Blinken said on the show. ABC “This week”, as stated AP, Tuesday (24/10). “We don’t want our troops or personnel to be attacked, but if that happens, we are prepared to deal with it.”
The US Defense Secretary added: “What we are seeing is the prospect of a significant increase in attacks against our troops and the population throughout the region. »
He stressed that the United States has the right to defend itself: “We will not hesitate to take appropriate measures.”
The warning from senior US officials comes as the Israeli military response to Hamas’ deadly attack on southern Israel enters its third week.
Israel has reportedly exchanged fire almost daily with the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group since the start of the Hamas war against Israel. Tensions would also increase in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
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