US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said “boots on the ground" may not be necessary, with tensions escalating in the Middle East. Trump warned Iran of Washington’s strong response after its drones struck the US Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“You (Iran) will soon find out Washington’s response to the attack on its embassy in Riyadh and to the killing of American soldiers," Trump said in an interview with NewsNation.
“I don’t think deploying ground forces will be necessary in Iran," the US President added.
After launching Saturday’s strikes on Iran, Trump had told New York Post, “Every President says, ‘There will be no boots on the ground.’ I don’t say it. I say ‘probably don’t need them,’ [or] ‘if they were necessary."
When asked if Trump is worried about other potential attacks on the US sites, Trump answered, “No, it’s a part of war. It’s part of war, whether people like it or not. That’s the way it is."
Trump’s statement came after the US Embassy in Riyadh was struck by Iranian drones. According to the US State Department, the Embassy in Riyadh was hit by two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
A loud blast was heard and thick smoke was seen rising above the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh on Monday night. This was the latest Washington consulate in the Middle East to come under attack after Iran launched a barrage of missiles and drones in response to Israeli military action.
“Embassy Riyadh has been struck by two UAVs that hit the roof and the perimeter of the chancery. Post is sheltering in place and reported no injuries," the department said.
The Saudi Ministry of Defense announced that the US Embassy was attacked by two drones, resulting in a “limited fire and minor material damage to the building".
Earlier on Monday, the US embassies in Kuwait and Jordan were also struck. The embassy located in the Jordanian capital, Amman, staff was temporarily evacuated.
“Out of an abundance of caution, all personnel at the US Embassy have temporarily departed the embassy compound due to a threat," the US Embassy said in Jordan said in a security alert posted on social media.
Meanwhile, as the war in the Middle East is intensifying with both sides attacking each other, Trump on Monday said that the US has “the capability to go far longer" than its projected four-to-five-week time frame for its military operations against Iran.
The US and Israel have continued to pound Iran since killing its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday, while Tehran and its allies have hit back against Israel, neighbouring Gulf states, and targets critical to the world’s production of oil and natural gas.
Source: News18