As election looms, US calls for calm while Iran weighs response to Israeli strikes
The latest Israeli attack appeared calibrated to avoid a major escalation from Tehran that could trigger an all-out regional war.
WASHINGTON — The United States is warning Iran against launching another direct attack on Israel, hopeful that the Israeli strikes on Saturday will be the last in a dangerous tit-for-tat between the two regional foes.
The call for de-escalation comes after Israel carried out its long-anticipated response to Iran’s firing of nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on Oct. 1, which it said was retaliation for the Israeli assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.
“We believe this should be the end of that matter,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters Monday. “We do think it was a proportionate response that should not lead to further escalation by Iran, and we certainly hope that Iran will not further escalate the conflict.”
Early Saturday local time, Israeli warplanes struck multiple military targets including missile air defense systems and manufacturing facilities linked to Iranian missile production. Citing unnamed Iranian and Israeli officials, The New York Times reported that Israel’s attacks on Iran, including a strike in April, have destroyed four of its Russian-supplied S-300 air defense systems.
