John Kirby, the White House national security communications adviser, reiterated on Sunday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu understands President Biden’s stance on avoiding escalation in the conflict with Iran.
During an appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Kirby emphasized that President Biden is committed to preventing further escalation of tensions and is not seeking a broader conflict with Iran. He stressed that Biden has been actively working to contain the situation since early October to prevent the conflict from spiraling into a regional war.
Kirby’s comments came in the wake of Iran’s drone and missile attack on Israel over the weekend, which the U.S. assisted in repelling. Despite the assistance provided to Israel, Kirby underscored that the U.S. is not seeking to engage in a wider war with Iran.
President Biden’s conversation with Netanyahu on Saturday focused on addressing the attack and commending Israel for its successful interception of most of the incoming missiles and drones.
Kirby highlighted the importance of Biden’s recent decisions to reposition additional military assets, including ships and fighter squadrons, in the region. These deployments played a crucial role in bolstering Israel’s defense capabilities and minimizing the potential for extensive damage within the country.
Kirby’s remarks underscored the administration’s commitment to maintaining stability in the region while supporting Israel’s security interests.
By emphasizing Biden’s efforts to prevent escalation and provide assistance to Israel, Kirby aimed to convey the administration’s proactive approach to addressing the evolving situation in the Middle East.