“These groups in Iraq and Syria, that are attacking US interests, have made their own decisions,” the minister said.
US bases in the Middle East were attacked 55 times in the period of October 17 - November 14, according to the Pentagon. US Department of Defense Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh has told reporters on Tuesday that 59 US service members were injured as a result of the attacks.
There are roughly 2,500 American troops in Iraq and some 900 in Syria as part of, what Washington claims to be, a fighting force against Daesh (also known as ISIL or ISIS). The US has kept the forces there, although, the Arab countries and their allies defeated the terrorist group in late 2017.
Tehran has repeatedly called on Washington to stop plundering Syria’s national resources and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Arab country, urging foreign occupation forces and their mercenaries to leave the war-ravaged country.
Amir Abdollahian also rejected allegations that Tehran was responsible for a drone raid in the Red Sea that appeared to be targeting a US missile destroyer.
A statement from the Pentagon claimed that the guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner shot down the drone last Wednesday morning, which originated from Yemen, as it was “heading in the direction of the ship”. The Pentagon, however, did not say who it believes fired the drone. Yemen troops announced the shooting down of an advanced American drone as the aircraft was operating in support of Israel
“Yemen makes its own decisions and acts independently,” the Iranian diplomat stressed.
Yemen’s Armed Forces have conducted several missile and drone strikes against Israel since mid-October in support of Palestine. Leader of Yemen's Ansarallah movement Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi has also vowed to continue attacking Israeli targets, including Israeli ships in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The war in the Gaza Strip has sent tensions soaring throughout the region, with international organizations and political leaders warning of a potential wider war across the region.
During the interview, Amir Abdollahian expressed Iran’s strong opposition to the spillover of the war to other parts of the region.
“We really didn’t want this crisis to expand. But the US has been intensifying the war in Gaza by throwing its support behind Israel,” the senior diplomat emphasized.
Iranian officials have in recent weeks cautioned that the current status in West Asia resembled a powder keg which could spiral out of control. They warned that if diplomatic pushes to stop Israeli assault are unsuccessful, there is a risk of the conflict escalating uncontrollably, with multiple regional players joining the fight.
Tehran says the Palestinian resistance movements do not face a shortage in munitions and other military equipment and are ready for a long battle with Israel and they are currently considering various options in response to the Zionist regime act of aggression and relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, American and European officials have promised rock-solid and unwavering support to Tel Aviv. In recent weeks, President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and several others European leaders visited Tel Aviv to show their support for Israel.
Tehran says the Western leaders' trips to the occupied territories are aimed at giving artificial respiration to Israel and demonstrate the US' and Europe's concerns over the downfall of the Zionist regime.
The US has also pledged unwavering support for Israel as its military pummels Gaza with bombardment, announcing it will provide Tel Aviv with everything it needed. Washington has also made major shows of force in the Middle East since early October, deploying two aircraft carrier strike groups to the Mediterranean, as well as an amphibious assault ship carrying 2,000 sailors and marines. US officials have claimed the moves were meant to deter outside actors from taking part in the Gaza war.
Iranian officials say the United States is waging a war on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip through Israel, and cautions that the current status in West Asia resembled a powder keg which could spiral out of control. They stress death of thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is the outcome of the US massive military equipment’s shipments to the occupied territories, calling for trial of Israeli and American officials for their crimes against the Palestinian people. They note If Washington’s political and military aid to Zionists is cut off, the regime won’t be able to proceed its military campaign against the besieged strip.
Following the multi-front attack by Hamas, Israel carried out heavy bombardment across the Gaza Strip, killing nearly 11,500 Palestinians, including at least 4,700 children and over 3,000 women, and wounding over 30,000 others, and levelling entire neighbourhoods. Tel Aviv has also imposed a "complete siege" on Gaza, cutting off food, electricity, fuel and water supplies. The move has plunged the blockaded territory into a humanitarian crisis.
The Gaza Health Ministry has confirmed that the healthcare system in the besieged territory has “totally collapsed due to the Israeli war”.
The Gaza Health Ministry has confirmed that the healthcare system in the besieged territory has “totally collapsed due to the Israeli war”. Dozens of hospitals and tens of medical centers are out of service due to Israeli raids, according to the enclave's health ministry. The UN agencies have also warned that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is "catastrophic", calling for more international help as conditions deteriorate in the densely populated besieged enclave.
Tehran says the history of the apartheid regime is full of assassinations, massacre, torture and killing of Palestinian kids, and described Tel Aviv regime's atrocities and massacre of Palestinian women and children as indicative of the destitute of Zionists. Iranian officials say the Tel Aviv regime has been struggling for more than 70 years to exit its identity crisis which has been mixed with genocide, plunder, forced displacement and scores of other inhumane moves - FARSNEWS.
UN Security Council adopts resolution for ‘humanitarian pauses’ in Gaza
