The administration wants to respond appropriately to lethal strikes while avoiding war.
The White House is facing a balancing act in the aftermath of an Iran-backed drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Lebanon on Sunday, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said to reporters on Monday. This attack marks the first time U.S. troops have been killed in the Middle East since conflict broke out in Gaza in October, which the NSC coordinator noted in his comments.
“This attack over the weekend was escalatory, make no mistake about it. And it requires a response, make no mistake about that,” Coordinator Kirby said. “I will not get ahead of the president’s decision-making.”
“We do not seek another war. We do not seek to escalate. But we will absolutely do what is required to protect ourselves… and to respond appropriately to these attacks,” Coordinator Kirby added.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Coordinator Kirby as he relays defense information from the White House.
- For Pentagon officials as they advise the president regarding responses to the attack that killed U.S. troops.
Sources: The Hill, ABC News
