US secretary of state Antony Blinken warned against further attacks in the Middle East as Washington, Israel and other allies are awaiting expected Iranian retaliation.
“Everyone in the region should understand that further attacks only perpetuate conflict, instability, insecurity for everyone, further attacks only raise the risk of dangerous outcomes that no one can predict, and no one can fully control,” Blinken said, speaking after a meeting with the Australian foreign and defence ministers in Annapolis, Maryland.
US defence secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking beside him after the meeting, said the Pentagon is taking steps to “lower temperatures” in the region but stands ready to defend Israel as well as its own forces in the region.