US: The Iranian Government Should Not Escalate Conflict

Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US State Department, referring to reports about the possibility of another attack by the Islamic Republic on Israeli territory, stated that the Iranian government "fully understands the message that it must not continue to escalate the conflict at all." On Wednesday, November 1, Matthew Miller commented on Israel's retaliatory attack on the positions of the Islamic Republic on Saturday, saying that the attack was an appropriate response from the Israeli government to the unprecedented attack by the Iranian government, but this must be the end of it. The US Department of Defense, the Pentagon, had previously announced the possibility that the Islamic Republic might respond to Israel's recent retaliatory attack. Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder said in a press conference on Tuesday that the US is aware of this issue and must prepare for all possibilities. He referred to a statement issued by the Pentagon regarding a recent call between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Israeli counterpart, stating that if the Iranian government intends to act, the United States is fully committed to Israel's security and remains prepared. The Pentagon spokesperson, in response to a question about whether a potential attack by the Islamic Republic on Israel is premature, said that the statements of Iranian officials on this matter are available, and he has nothing further to add, refraining from describing whether this attack is imminent or not. Pat Ryder emphasized that the US is fully aware of the tensions, assists Israel in defending itself, and protects American forces in the Middle East against potential attacks from the Islamic Republic and its proxy groups. He also stated that the United States seeks to reduce the level of tension in the Middle East. Israel, early on Saturday, November 5, responded to the firing of about 200 ballistic missiles from the Islamic Republic with an airstrike targeting about 20 military sites in Iran, which resulted in at least 4 military casualties in Iran. According to reports from Western media, the Israeli attack caused significant damage to air defense systems, missile and drone production workshops in Iran, as well as a missile base of the IRGC in Semnan. The Islamic Republic had only confirmed attacks in Tehran, Khuzestan, and Ilam; however, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday, citing satellite images, that the damage from the Israeli attack in Semnan province was also significant. Reports indicate that the Islamic Republic's missile attack on Israel did not cause significant damage. A ban on the activities of the UN aid agency for Palestinians in Israel has been approved. Experts: Israel's military operations have rendered IRGC rhetoric ineffective. Israel: Any further aggression by the Iranian government will have "swift, painful, and decisive" consequences. Washington warns Tehran: Another attack on Israel or American forces will have "severe consequences."