Harris warns Iran not to respond to Israel’s counterattack: “It would be a mistake”

Vice President Kamala Harris said Saturday she believes “it would be a mistake” if Tehran responded Israel’s counterattack about Iran.

In an interview with CBS Evening News anchor and editor-in-chief Norah O’Donnell on the campaign trail in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Harris said her message to Iran was “don’t respond.”

“It would be a mistake,” the Democratic presidential candidate said. “And we are prepared to defend Israel, as we have done before. We will do that again. But the crucial point is that there must be a de-escalation in the region. And we are working through diplomatic and other channels to ensure that there is de-escalation in the region.”

Early Saturday morning local time, the Israeli army launched a series of what it described as “precise attacks on military targets” in response to Iran’s October 1 missile attack at Israel, firing about 200 ballistic missiles.

While explosions were heard in Tehran, the Iranian military appeared to play down the attack, according to Iranian state media, with a government spokesman saying the strikes caused only “limited damage.” Four soldiers were killed, according to Iranian state media.

Speaking to reporters in Philadelphia on Saturday on his way to a campaign event, Biden said he had received a warning from Israel ahead of the attacks.

“It doesn’t appear they hit anything other than military targets,” Biden said. “My hope is that this is the end.”

And in a call with reporters, a senior Biden administration official said the US did not participate in the operation, describing Israel’s attack as an “act of self-defense.”

The senior official said Mr. Biden spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week and “encouraged” him to design a response that served to deter further attacks on Israel while reducing the risk of further escalation.

A spokesperson for Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that “Israel selected the targets of the attack in advance in accordance with its national interests, and not according to American dictates.”

When asked On Netanyahu’s relationship with the Biden administration, Harris responded in an interview with “60 Minutes” earlier this month: “I think, with all due respect, the better question is: Do we have a significant alliance between the American people and the Israeli people?” .”

The Biden administration in August approved $20 billion in arms sales to Israel.

Harris declined to say whether U.S. intelligence has indicated Iran wants to respond, reiterating that the U.S. position is that Tehran “should not respond and that would be a mistake.”

And when asked if there would be any consequences for such an Iranian response, Harris said, “I’ll keep you posted.”