US' 'ironclad' commitment to Israel's defense 'will not change'

WASHINGTON

The US on Monday reiterated that its commitment to Israel's defense remains "ironclad" and that it does not want to see a wider regional war following Iranian attacks on Israel over the weekend.

"We have made clear privately and publicly that we are committed to Israel's defense, that will always be true. That commitment remains ironclad, it will not change," State Department spokesman Matt Miller told a briefing.

"And if there are further attacks on Israel, of course, we will continue to defend them," he added.

Miller said Washington remains committed to providing lasting peace and security for Israel, the Palestinian people, and the broader region, adding it will continue to engage regional and international partners "urgently on these areas" in the coming days.

Stressing that the US wants to see a de-escalation in the region, Miller said: "We don't want to see this conflict further escalated. We don't want to see a wider regional war."

Earlier, Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said Israel will respond to the weekend Iranian attack.

"The Iranian attack will be met with a response," Halevi said during his visit to the Nevatim airbase in southern Israel, which was targeted in Saturday’s Iranian attack.

"Iran wanted to harm the strategic capabilities of the state of Israel – that is something that had not happened before. We were prepared for the ‘Iron Shield’ operation – preparation that brought Iran to also meet air superiority," he added.

Iran launched a barrage of drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday in response to the April 1 attack on the Iranian Consulate in Damascus, Syria, in which at least 13 people were killed, including seven military advisers.