US sees risk of Middle East escalation, threat to US troops
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The US says actions by Iran and its proxies could spark an escalation in the ongoing war.
PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON – The United States sees the prospect of further attacks on its troops in the Middle East and the Israel-Hamas war escalating to the wider region, the top US diplomat and defence officials said on Sunday.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the US does not want to see the conflict spread.
Mr Blinken told NBC News that actions by Iran and its proxies could spark an escalation and that the US hoped for more hostages to be released by Palestinian militant group Hamas, which attacked Israel on Oct 7
The group killed about 1,400 people and took about 200 people hostage.
Israel has since retaliated with deadly air strikes on Gaza
Israel’s air strikes have killed more than 4,600 people, Palestinian officials say.
“We’re concerned about potential escalation. In fact, what we’re seeing… is the prospect of a significant escalation of attacks on our troops and our people throughout the region,” Mr Austin told ABC’s This Week programme.
“If any group or any country is looking to widen this conflict and take advantage of this very unfortunate situation... our advice is: don’t,” he added. REUTERS
