Iran is "actively facilitating" attacks by militant groups on United States military bases in the Middle East as concerns grow of a wider conflict in the region, a senior White House official said.
Tehran is closely watching the uptick in attacks by Iranian-backed groups on U.S. troops in the region and is backing some of the efforts, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters Monday.
"We know Iran is closely monitoring these events and in some cases actively facilitating these attacks," Kirby said. Iran is providing rockets, munitions and other resources, Kirby added, but did not offer more details.
Iran has long backed numerous militant groups in the region, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas, which launched the Oct. 7 attack on Israel that sparked the latest Middle East war.
But the Biden administration has warned of growing threats from Iranian-backed groups as the number of attacks on U.S. troops increases.
The Iranian-backed Islamic Resistance of Iraq claimed responsibility last week for two drone attacks on two facilities used by U.S. forces in Iraq. One attack resulted in minor injuries but no fatalities, according to the Associated Press.
A U.S. warship last week intercepted missiles from the Iranian-backed Houthi movement in Yemen that appeared to be fired toward Israel. The Pentagon has sent two aircraft carrier groups to the Middle East since Hamas's Oct. 7 attack to deter a broader conflict.
"We're deeply concerned about any significant escalation," Kirby said.
Newsweek reached out to Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.
The tensions come as Israel prepares for a likely ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. The rising death toll of Palestinian civilians caught in the conflict has sparked an outcry from humanitarian aid groups and others.
The U.S. has pledged to back Israel while also urging Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. Some aid started flowing into Gaza from Egypt over the weekend, following President Biden's visit to Israel last week.
Hamas also released two American hostages last Friday and said Monday it had released two Israeli hostages, as the United States and other countries continue working to secure the release of approximately 200 people abducted from Israel during the group's Oct. 7 attack.
Ten Americans remain "unaccounted for," Kirby said Monday, down from 14 last week. But Kirby said the U.S. was uncertain where the missing Americans were, and did not say if they were all believed to be held hostage in Gaza.
"It's literally an hour-by-hour effort at the White House and State Department to find out where they are," he said.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Daniel Bush is a White House Correspondent for Newsweek. He reports on President Biden, national politics and foreign affairs. Biden ... Read more
