He said this after the US army launched a series of airstrikes on targets in Syria, which, according to US authorities, may be associated with the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
"In Syria, we are focused on the mission of defeating ISIS and will continue to focus on it. We're not looking for conflict with Iran, we're not looking for escalation with Iran. But the strikes we carried out last night should make it very clear that we take the protection of our personnel very seriously. We will respond quickly and decisively if they are threatened," the official said during a briefing, as quoted by RIA Novosti.
As previously stated in the Pentagon, the US base in Syria was attacked by a drone, as a result of which one American soldier was killed, six more were injured. According to intelligence estimates, the UAV was of Iranian origin.
In response, by order of US President Joe Biden, the head of the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin, authorized the forces of the Central Command to carry out air strikes in eastern Syria on objects "used by groups associated with the Iranian IRGC."
* "Islamic State" (IG, ISIS) - the organization was recognized as a terrorist organization by the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation dated 29.12.2014.