National security adviser Jake Sullivan claimed the three recent strikes across Syria, Yemen, and Iraq are examples of the president’s attempt to “prevent war.”
Sullivan appeared on State of the Union on Sunday, commenting on President Joe Biden’s order of three strikes within a 24-hour period. The strikes were in response to the over 150 attacks on the United States military in these areas since Oct. 7. Most recently, three service members were killed in an attack on the border of Syria and Iraq.
“The president approached this with a straightforward principle which is the United States will step up and respond when our forces are attacked. The United States is not looking for a wider war in the Middle East. We are not looking to take the United States to war,” Sullivan said. “Past presidents have had to deal with a significant number of American casualties and American deaths in the Middle East because of war. This president is looking to defend our interests and to defend our troops.”
Sullivan still implied that the president will continue to order further action but would not go into detail about what kind of action or where he will target. He shared his confidence that the U.S. is prepared for “contingencies” should the Iranian-based Houthis attack again.
“The president’s basic principle — as I’ve said now a few times on this program — remains consistent, which is, if we see more attacks, you will see more responses.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
A combination of U.S. and U.K. forces hit 36 Iran-backed Houthi rebel targets Saturday across 13 locations in Yemen. This was the third joint mission between the two Western allies in the Middle Eastern nation.
U.S. forces also destroyed six missiles in Yemen on Saturday. U.S. Central Command targeted the anti-ship cruise missiles as they appeared to pose a threat to Navy ships.
