US tells Iran not to respond following attack by Israel

The United States of America has called on the Iranian government not to retaliate against the latest Israeli strikes against it.

“If Iran chooses to respond once again, we will be ready, and there will be consequences for Iran once again,” a statement by senior administration officials said.

It added that the US did not want to see this happen.

“This should be the end of this direct exchange of fire between Israel and Iran,” the statement went on, adding that Washington was prepared to “lead an effort to secure an end to the war in Lebanon” and try to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, together with the return of hostages seized from Israel.

Earlier, Israel confirmed attacks on Iran, saying: “Based on intelligence, IAF (air force) aircraft struck missile manufacturing facilities used to produce the missiles that Iran fired at the State of Israel over the last year,” Israel’s military said in a statement.

“Simultaneously, the IDF (military) struck surface-to-air missile arrays and additional Iranian aerial capabilities,” the army said, adding that the “retaliatory strike has been completed and the mission was fulfilled”.

Since the deadliest attack in its history on October 7, 2023, Israel has been fighting Hamas in Gaza, and since late last month, it has been at war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the war in Gaza killed 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.

Israel’s retaliatory campaign in Gaza has killed 42,847 people, the majority civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry which the United Nations considers reliable.