US to prioritize de-escalation efforts after Israel attacks on Iran, says Lloyd Austin – Firstpost

The US will continue to work to prevent an escalation of conflict in West Asia, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Saturday after Israel launched an attack on Iran.

Austin called Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant after the attack and reiterated the US presence in the region.

“I reaffirmed the United States’ strong commitment to Israel’s security and right to self-defense. We stated that the United States maintains an enhanced force posture to defend US personnel, Israel, and partners in the region against threats from Iran and Iranian-backed terrorist organizations, and is determined to prevent any actor from exploiting tensions or expanding. conflict in the region,” he said in a post on X.

On Saturday morning, Israel carried out “precision strikes” on Iranian military bases, killing two soldiers. Israel has issued a warning to Iran, saying any retaliation will come at a “high price”.

Iran admitted that Israeli strikes hit military sites around Tehran province and other regions of the country, causing “minimal damage”. The Iranian armed forces later confirmed the loss of two soldiers in the strikes.

The country also claimed its “duty” to defend itself against Israeli attacks. Meanwhile, Hamas, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon supported Iran’s right to defend itself as it condemned Israel’s attacks.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its condemnation and denunciation” of the Israeli attacks, the Foreign Ministry said, reiterating its “firm position of rejecting the escalation of conflict in the region” which “threatens the security and stability of countries and peoples”. in the Middle East.

While Hamas said: “We condemn in the strongest terms the Zionist aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran and the targeting of military sites in several provinces,” the movement said in a statement, calling the move “a flagrant violation of Iranian sovereignty and an escalation that threatens the security of the region”.

With contributions from agencies