U.S. DISTANCES ITSELF FROM ISRAEL'S STRIKE IN IRAN, FOCUSING ON DEESCALATION EFFORTS

U.S. Distances Itself From Israel's Strike in Iran, Focusing on Deescalation Efforts

After Israel reportedly struck targets inside Iran on Friday morning, the U.S. was quick to deny involvement in the events. During the G7 summit in Italy, Blinken underscored the U.S.' commitment to Israel's defense, and announced joint G7 sanctions on the Iranian weapons industry

April 19th, 20PM April 19th, 20PM

WASHINGTON – Hours after Israel's apparent retaliatory strikes against Iran, the United States is officially taking a hands-off approach – trying to distance itself from any reported military action while maintaining support for Israel's right to self-defense.

In the first public remarks from a senior U.S. official since the strikes, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken repeatedly declined the opportunity to discuss the strikes except to link the Biden administration with deescalation efforts instead of military action.

"The U.S. hasn't been involved in any offensive operations. What we're focused on is our work to de-escalate tensions. You saw Israel on the receiving end of an unprecedented attack, and our focus is making sure Israel can defend itself while avoiding conflict," he said at a press conference in Italy following a meeting with G7 foreign ministers.

"You'll see in a G7 statement a commitment to hold Iran to account – for its destabilizing activities, by degrading its missile and drone capabilities," he said, noting the recently announced round of U.S. sanctions targeting Iran's drone program, its steel industry, companies associated with the IRGC, ministry of defense and its armed forces' logistics. He added the G7 will adopt additional sanctions and other measures in the days ahead.

Shortly before Blinken's remarks, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told reporters that Israel informed the U.S. at the last minute before reportedly undertaking the strikes.

"The United States were informed at the last minute, but there was no involvement on the part of the United States, it was simply information that was provided," he said, adding he believes "the small-scale of the event is also the result of the efforts of the G7."

The incident comes as Congress moves closer to finally providing Israel with billions in emergency military assistance – a matter that has gained bipartisan support with increased urgency in the days since Iran's attack on Israel. House Democrats helped bail out House Speaker Mike Johnson, who faced internal opposition, to move the aid package out of a key committee onto the floor for a vote.

The Biden administration, meanwhile, remains hyperfocused on Gaza and the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Blinken reiterated U.S. opposition to a major military operation in Rafah, one day after a virtual meeting between U.S. and Israeli officials on the matter.

He also stressed the need for Israel to continue improving its efforts at implementing the influx of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, while explicitly placing blame for stalled cease-fire negotiations on Hamas.

"The only thing standing between the Gazan people and a cease-fire is Hamas. It has rejected generous proposals from Israel and seems more interested in a regional conflict than in a cease-fire that would immediately improve the lives of the Palestinian people," Blinken said. "It continues to move the goalposts and the world needs to know."

Blinken, however, indicated potential unprecedented action targeting human rights violations inside the Israeli military may be on their way, referring to internal State Department investigations on specific units' potential violations of U.S. law as recipients of military assistance.

"The Leahy Law is a very important law, It's one that we apply across the board. When we are doing these investigations, it's something that takes time and has to be done very carefully - both in collecting the facts and analyzing them," he said, adding "it's fair to say you'll see results very soon. I've made determinations, you can expect to see them in the days ahead."

2024-04-19T17:09:35Z dg43tfdfdgfd