White House National Security Advisor Says US Will Continue Attacks Against Iran-Backed Groups

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. (Wikimedia Commons/The White House)

JAKARTA - The United States intends to launch further attacks against Iran-backed groups in the Middle East, the White House National Security Advisor said on Sunday, after attacking Tehran-aligned factions in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen over the past two days.

The United States and Britain launched strikes on 36 Houthi targets in Yemen, a day after the US military attacked the Tehran-backed group in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for deadly attacks on its forces in Jordan.

"We intend to carry out additional strikes, and additional actions, to continue to send a clear message, the United States will respond when our troops are attacked, when our people are killed," said White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on NBC Sunday, reported by Reuters, February 5.

The attack is the latest blow in a conflict that has spread across the Middle East since October 7, when the Palestinian militant group Hamas invaded Israel from the Gaza Strip, sparking war.

President Joe Biden's administration's diplomatic efforts to stem the impact of the war also continue, with Foreign Minister Antony Blinken returning to the region on Sunday afternoon.

It is known that Tehran-backed groups that express support for Palestine have entered conflicts throughout the region. Hezbollah has been shelling Israeli targets on the Lebanon-Israel border. Iraqi militias have fired on US troops in Iraq and Syria. And, the Houthis have fired on Israeli-linked ships sailing in the Red Sea.

Iran itself has so far avoided a direct role in the conflict, despite supporting these groups. Meanwhile, the Pentagon says it does not want war with.

The attacks on Yemen over the weekend hit weapons storage facilities, missile systems, launchers, and other stored capabilities that the Houthis use to attack Red Sea ships, the Pentagon said, adding it targeted 13 locations.

In response, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the attack "will not go without response and consequences."

Another Houthi spokesman, Mohammed Abdulsalam, indicated the group would not be deterred, saying Yemen's decision to support Gaza would not be affected by any attack.