A top aide to President Joe Biden warned of an “elevated risk” that the conflict in the Middle East could spread across the region as Israel fights Hamas in the Gaza Strip in response to deadly terrorist attacks and the U.S. military trades fire with Iranian-backed groups in nearby Syria.
U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan — who not long ago touted a quiet Middle East — made the comment on Sunday after being asked by CBS “Face the Nation” moderator Margaret Brennan if he believes Iran has been deterred.
“What I believe is that the United States will follow through on what we say we’re going to do. We said that if our troops were attacked, we would respond, we responded,” Sullivan said on CBS.
“If they’re attacked again, we will respond again,” he added. “And we are vigilant, because we are seeing elevated threats against our forces throughout the region, and an elevated risk of this conflict spreading to other parts of the region. We are doing…