White House and State Department refused to comment on Israel's missile attack on Iran
Secretary of State of the US, Antony Blinken (photo: Getty Images)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that he cannot comment on media reports about the details of Israel's nighttime attack on Iran and emphasized that the US did not participate in any Israeli offensive operations. The White House also declined to comment on the attack, according to Xinhua agency.
"The reports that you've seen, I'm not going to speak to that, except to say that the United States has not been involved in any offensive operations," Blinken said at a press conference in Italy after meeting with foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) countries.
He was responding to a journalist's question asking him to confirm media reports that on Thursday Washington received a warning from Israel of an imminent strike on Iran in response to Tehran's attack on Israel last week.
"What we're focused on, what the G7 is focused on, and again, it's reflected in our statement and in our conversation, is our work to de-escalate tensions, to de-escalate from any potential conflict," Blinken said in his first public comments on the Israeli attack by a member of President Joe Biden's cabinet.
The secretary of state also declined to answer questions about the White House's assessment of whether Israeli strikes have ended and whether Iran will retaliate.
The White House also declined to comment on Israel's missile strike on Iran. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said this at a press briefing.
The lack of comments is unusual for the White House, which always closely monitors events in the Middle East.
Missile strike on Iran
On the night of April 14, Iran launched a massive attack on Israel using drones and missiles. The targets were launched from Iran's territory and by proxies of the Iranian regime from Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen.
The attack was in response to Israel's strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, during which several Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps generals were killed.
On the morning of April 19, the Israel Defense Forces carried out an airstrike on Iran in retaliation. The IDF struck with missiles and drones at a military base near the city of Isfahan.
The US did not support Israel's plans to strike Iran in response to the recent mass shelling.
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated that the US does not want an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
