U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed late on June 13 that Israel has launched a unilateral military operation against Iran. He emphasized that the United States is not participating in the attack, and that Washington’s top priority is to protect American forces stationed across the region.
“We are not involved in Israel’s operation. Our mission is to protect U.S. personnel and assets in the region from any potential Iranian retaliation,” Rubio said in an official statement. According to him, the U.S. had previously informed Israel that it would not support any strike operationally — including the denial of in-air refueling, deep-penetration bombs, or direct military assistance.
His statement comes amid initial reports of Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory, particularly near key nuclear infrastructure sites. Iranian authorities have not yet confirmed the scale of the damage, but local sources report air defense activity over Tehran and several explosions on the city’s outskirts.
President Donald Trump commented on the situation, stating: “This is Israel’s decision. We are doing everything we can to avoid escalation. But if Iran attacks U.S. personnel or bases, the response will be immediate and forceful.”
In response to the growing tensions, the U.S. has reinforced its bases in Iraq, Jordan, and the Gulf, deploying additional missile defense systems and surveillance drones.
Analysts warn that if Iran chooses to retaliate, the situation could spiral into a large-scale regional confrontation. The U.S. maintains that diplomacy remains the preferred path, but also notes that “every scenario has been carefully planned for.”
