Biden administration officials refused Sunday to rule out attacks inside Iran while saying the U.S. is just beginning its response to the drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan last weekend.
Attacks to stop Iran-backed groups targeting American interests began Friday with an air assault in Iraq and Syria and continued with the U.S. and Britain hitting 36 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday.
More military action will come, according to White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
Asked about the potential for strikes within Iran in interviews on Sunday, Mr. Kirby and Mr. Sullivan said they would not preview military action on television broadcasts.
“What you saw on Friday night was just the first round,” Mr. Kirby told “Fox News Sunday.” “There will be additional response actions taken by the administration against the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] and these groups that they’re backing.”
Precisely what those actions will be remains unclear. Hawkish critics of President Biden’s foreign policy, such as Sen. Lindsey Graham, want the military to take direct aim at Iran.
Mr. Graham, South Carolina Republican, advocated hitting an Iranian leader or cutting off the Islamic Republic’s oil business.
Mr. Sullivan was coy when asked what military action could come next.
“There will be more steps,” Mr. Sullivan told ABC. “Some of those steps will be seen, some may not be seen. But there will be more action taken to respond to the death of the, tragic death of the three brave U.S. service members.”
The threat exists of Iranian escalation against Americans over recent days’ strikes and future military action, and Mr. Sullivan said the administration is prepared for however Iran chooses to react.
“From the perspective of Tehran, if they chose to respond directly to the United States, they would be met with a swift and forceful response from us,” Mr. Sullivan said.
• This article is based in part on wire service reports.
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at rlovelace@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.