Following the Israeli military's confirmation of the conclusion of its targeted airstrikes on military targets in Iran, a senior US administration official has stated that this should mark the end of the direct exchange of fire between Israel and Iran. The official emphasized that while the US is prepared to respond if Iran chooses to escalate, the goal is to avoid further conflict.
President Joe Biden was reportedly briefed multiple times by his National Security Adviser throughout the evening, with the president returning to his home in Wilmington, Delaware, just before 8:00 p.m. on Friday.
The US was not directly involved in the military operation, according to the official. The airstrikes were described as a proportionate self-defense response to a previous ballistic missile attack by Iran, aimed at deterring future attacks and degrading Iran's capabilities for such activities.
The official highlighted the seriousness of the earlier missile attack, calling it 'unbelievably brazen and reckless' and almost unprecedented in history. The recent airstrikes were intended to prevent further aggression from Iran and limit its ability to engage in similar actions in the future.
