Rubio Says Israel’s Planned Strike Prompted U.S. Attack on Iran
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States launched its attack on Iran after learning that Israel was preparing military strikes and fearing retaliation against American forces in the region.
Speaking to reporters in Washington on Monday, Rubio said U.S. intelligence had indicated that Israeli military action was imminent and that Iran would likely respond by targeting U.S. personnel.
“We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action,” Rubio said. “We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn’t preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties.”
The remarks came as Rubio prepared to brief members of Congress, including the House and Senate intelligence committees, about the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian targets late last week, marking a major escalation in tensions across the Middle East.
The attacks triggered a broader regional conflict involving missile strikes, drone attacks and military operations across several countries.
Washington has described its action as a defensive move aimed at protecting American forces stationed across the region.
Rubio’s comments appear to confirm that U.S. officials believed Israel’s planned military operation would inevitably provoke Iranian retaliation, potentially placing American troops and installations in danger.
The strikes were part of a rapidly developing crisis that has seen fighting spread across multiple fronts in the Middle East, raising fears of a wider regional war.
Officials in Washington say the United States will continue monitoring developments closely while maintaining readiness to respond to further threats.