US says attacks on Tehran and Beirut do not help de-escalate tensions

(Patria) - The Israeli attack that killed Hezbollah commander in Beirut and the assassination of Hamas political leader in Tehran "do not help" de-escalate regional tensions, but there are no signs of an imminent wider conflict, the White House said on Wednesday, AFP reported.

"These reports in the last 24, 48 hours certainly do not help lower the temperature," National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters when asked about the attacks.

"We are obviously concerned about escalation."

Kirby downplayed the risk of an immediate slide into the all-out war that the region has feared since October 7 and the subsequent war in Gaza.

"We don't actually think that escalation is inevitable and there are no signs that escalation is inevitable," he said.

He said Washington is closely monitoring developments.

"It's not like we're dismissing the concerns at all. We are watching this very, very closely and it has been the President's top concern," Kirby said.

The strikes on two of Israel's biggest enemies came less than a week after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the White House and spoke with President Joe Biden with the aim of pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Hamas blamed Israel for the assassination of its political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Israel declined to comment on the attack, but Netanyahu said on Wednesday that his country had dealt "crushing blows" to its enemies and explicitly mentioned the killing of Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr in southern Beirut.

Kirby said it was "too early" to say what impact the attacks would have on negotiations for a deal to achieve a ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas.

"That doesn't mean we're going to stop working on it. We have a team in the region right now as we speak," he said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had previously said the United States "was not aware of or involved in" the assassination of Haniyeh.