ISLAMABAD: U.S. President Donald Trump will chair a high-level National Security Council (NSC) meeting on Friday morning in response to Israel’s military strikes on Iran, the White House confirmed.
The meeting, scheduled for 11:00 am (1500 GMT), comes amid heightened tensions following Israel’s announcement that it targeted Iranian nuclear sites, ballistic missile facilities, and senior military officials.
Israel has warned that the strikes mark the beginning of a sustained military campaign aimed at preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
U.S. Maintains Distance from Israeli Operation
While the White House is closely monitoring the situation, the Trump administration has reiterated that the United States was not involved in the Israeli military operation.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that Washington’s primary focus is on the safety of American personnel in the region.
“We are not involved in strikes against Iran,” Rubio said, calling the Israeli action a “unilateral decision.”
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, confirmed that while there is ongoing coordination between Washington and Tel Aviv, the decision to strike was entirely Israel’s own.
In an interview with CNN, Danon declined to speculate on whether the U.S. would assist Israel in the event of an Iranian counterattack.
U.S. Embassies on High Alert
Following the strikes, the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem issued a security alert, instructing all government employees and their families to shelter in place until further notice.
The State Department warned that travel restrictions could be expanded without warning due to the evolving security situation in Israel and the West Bank.
Meanwhile, scheduled diplomatic talks between U.S. and Iranian officials on Iran’s nuclear program — set to take place in Oman on Sunday — now appear uncertain in light of the escalating conflict.
President Trump, who earlier acknowledged the possibility of Israeli military action, expressed hope for a peaceful resolution but confirmed that the U.S. military is preparing for multiple contingencies, including potential evacuations of American citizens.
