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Amman - The United States urged Iran on Saturday to cease its attacks on Israel to break the cycle of violence, following Israeli airstrikes on Iran in response to a large-scale missile attack by Tehran earlier this month.
US National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savitt stated, “We urge Tehran to stop its attacks on Israel to end the cycle of fighting without further escalation.”
The Israeli military launched airstrikes on Iran on Saturday, targeting military bases, missile sites, and other defence systems across various parts of the country.
He added that “their [Israel’s] response was an act of self-defence, deliberately avoiding populated areas and focusing exclusively on military targets, unlike Iran’s attack on Israel, which targeted the most populated Israeli city.”
He emphasized that the US did not participate in the Israeli strikes, reiterating, “Our aim is to expedite the diplomatic process and reduce tensions in the Middle East.”
A senior US administration official revealed that President Joe Biden and the White House national security team worked with Israeli officials in recent weeks to encourage a targeted, proportional response with minimal civilian impact.
Speaking to reporters, the official stated, “This seems to be precisely what happened tonight.”
The official confirmed that President Biden encouraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “design a response that deters further attacks on Israel while reducing the risk of additional escalation. This remains our goal.”
AFP