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US: Israel-Hamas war could escalate, we don't want our forces to be shot

2023-10-23 09:14:42, Kosova & Bota CNA

US: Israel-Hamas war could escalate, we don't want our forces to be shot

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said late Sunday that the United States expects the war between Israel and Hamas to escalate through the involvement of Iranian proxies, adding that the Biden administration is prepared to answered if US personnel or armed forces become the target of such fighting.

"This is not what we want, nor what we are looking for. We don't want escalation," said Blinken.

He added that the United States does not want "to shoot at our forces or personnel. But if this happens, then we are ready for it."

Austin, meanwhile, said that "what we are seeing is the possibility of a major escalation of attacks on our troops and people in the region."

He emphasized that the United States has the right to self-defense "and we will not hesitate to take appropriate action."

The warning from senior US officials comes as Israel's military's heavy-handed response to a deadly Hamas attack on southern Israeli cities on October 7 enters its third week.

Israeli warplanes continued bombing the Gaza Strip on Saturday and Sunday, and struck two airports in Syria and a mosque in the occupied West Bank allegedly used by militants.

Israel's military exchanged fire with Lebanon's Hezollah militant group over the weekend, killing six of the group's fighters.

Blinken, who recently spent several days in the Middle East, spoke of "the possibility of an escalation of the war, although no one wants to see fighting on a second or third front between Israel and Hamas."

He said he expects "escalation from Iranian proxies against our forces, against our personnel," adding that "we are taking steps to make sure we can protect our people and respond decisively if necessary."

Iran is Israel's enemy.

The American President, Joe Biden, has repeatedly used the word "don't" to warn Israel's enemies not to take advantage of the current situation in the region./ REL





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