State Department, Pentagon pledge support for Israel while trying to mitigate Iranian attack

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has spent the past 24 hours trying to send a clear message to Iran that escalating the conflict in the Middle East is not in the world’s interest as the threat of a direct attack on Israel from Tehran looms. 

“We continue to be concerned about the risk of escalation in the Middle East, something we have been working to mitigate and contain since the attacks of October 7,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. “And specifically about the threats made in recent days by Iran against the State of Israel and the Israeli people,” Miller said. 

Blinken spoke with the foreign ministers from Turkey, China and Saudi Arabia urging them to also send a message against escalation to Iran. Blinken then spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Miller said. 

Miller does not want to put timeframe on attack

Miller wouldn’t speak to what US intelligence communities are assessing from Tehran, saying he doesn’t want to put any timeframe on a possible attack. 

“The message we’re sending there that we’re hoping to avoid in the first place an attack by Iran,” Miller said. 

Miller said the US is still assessing the status of the Damascus facility that Israel attacked earlier this month which killed Iranian Iranian Commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi.

Support for Israel ‘Iron Clad’

Pentagon spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder declined to speculate or discuss intelligence on when and if Iran may attack Israel during a press conference on Thursday. 

Ryder said since the beginning of the conflict the Pentagon’s two key objectives were protecting US forces in the region and supporting Israel’s inherent right to self defense.

“Our commitment to Israel’s security is iron clad,” Ryder said. 

Ryder said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday afternoon. Austin was not on the call earlier Thursday between Gallant and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. 

Ryder confirmed that Central Command General Michel Kurilla traveled to Tel Aviv on Thursday for meetings with Israeli military leadership. Kurilla had meetings in Israel scheduled in the next few weeks but moved up his trip in light of recent events, Ryder said. 

Ryder said the US military’s humanitarian pier in Gaza is still slated to be built by the end of the month or early May and will not be disrupted by more aid potentially entering Gaza on the ground. 

Ryder said the information Israel provided to the White House and National Security Council following Israel’s attack on the World Central Kitchen workers is still under review. 

JPost