US Senator Rubio Suggests Iranian Strikes May Have Been Influenced by Israel

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US military’s decision to strike Iranian government facilities was influenced by a planned Israeli attack on Iran. According to Rubio, Washington was aware of Israel’s intentions to launch an assault on Iran and anticipated Tehran’s retaliation against US interests in the region.

During a briefing with congressional leaders, Rubio explained that the US preemptively struck Iranian targets due to concerns about potential casualties. He stated that if the US had not acted first, it would have suffered higher losses.

The conflict escalated after Israel launched joint attacks with the US, targeting Iran’s supreme leader and several top officials. Tehran responded with drone and missile launches across the region, including against US bases and assets in the Gulf.

Rubio emphasized that the US was acting to address an imminent threat posed by Iran’s alleged plans to attack American forces. He also acknowledged that the goal of the war is to destroy Iran’s missile and drone programmes.

The US military has confirmed six fatalities, with two additional bodies recovered from a regional facility struck by Iranian forces. The State Department has issued travel advisories for several countries in the Middle East, urging Americans to “depart now” due to safety concerns.

Source: Al Jazeera