The US military announced that it had carried out airstrikes on facilities associated with Iran's elite military forces in Iraq and Syria. This is in retaliation for an attack on a military base in Jordan in the Middle East that left three soldiers dead.
Washington bureau reporter Kosuke Watanabe provides commentary on the future outlook for US military attacks and the possibility of an expansion of exchanges of attacks in the Middle East.
[Video is 2 minutes 16 seconds]
Cannot be viewed on data broadcasting. It was broadcast on "NHK News" at noon on the 3rd.
Q. What is the future outlook for the American attack?
Coordinator A. Kirby said, ``We do not give advance notice of future operations,'' and did not specify the duration of the attack.
However, he said he would take "additional measures in the coming days," so the operation is expected to last at least several days.
Also, prior to the attack, Secretary of Defense Austin stated, ``The response will be multi-layered, and we will have the ability to respond repeatedly depending on the situation.''
For this reason, it seems likely that the method and duration of the attack will be determined after determining how armed groups will emerge.
Q. Is there a possibility that the exchange of attacks in the Middle East region will expand?
A. The United States would like to avoid the situation escalating.
President Biden has stated, ``I do not want conflicts to escalate in the Middle East,'' and this stance is clearly reflected in the fact that he did not directly target Iranian territory with military attacks this time.
However, we cannot exclude the possibility that the attacks will expand.
As the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, the Iranian-backed network of armed groups known as the "Axis of Resistance" in various parts of the Middle East is increasing its confrontational stance against Israel and the United States.
Even if neither the United States nor Iran wants the situation to escalate, there is a risk that these forces may use their own judgment to escalate attacks against Israel and the United States.
Furthermore, within the United States, opposition parties and the Republican Party are criticizing the series of responses as weak, and there are also hard-line voices calling for a direct attack on Iran.
President Biden is being forced to take a difficult response, having to pay attention not only to the situation on the ground but also to domestic public opinion.