Former Admiral John Kirby fired back on Thursday when a reporter for Al Jazeera asserted that the United States was to blame for escalating conflict in the Red Sea with Iran-backed proxies in the area.
Correspondent Kimberly Halkett raised the question, first asking whether the U.S. was escalating tensions by supporting Israel pursuing Hamas leadership outside Gaza — and then arguing that by firing back on Houthi vessels, the United States was escalating tensions with Iran. Kirby, currently serving as director of strategic communications for the National Security Council, objected.
WATCH:
WATCH: Leave it to the Al Jazeera reporter to claim w/o evidence it's the U.S. — not Iran or Houthis — who's esclating matters toward a Middle East war in the Red Sea b/c commercial vessels can't travel safely.
John Kirby was NOT having any of this pro-terrorist propaganda. pic.twitter.com/dD0M6xvlt9
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) January 3, 2024
“You said the United States doesn’t want a second front. And you also said that Israel has a right and responsibility to go after Hamas leadership,” Halkett began. “But isn’t the United States and the president — aren’t they exactly widening and escalating this, given the fact that the U.S. is supporting chasing Hamas leadership outside of Gaza? I mean, the fact that it’s going into Lebanon, a sovereign nation.”
“Again, your question is presuming an awful lot and is presuming that I said things I didn’t say. I’m not …” Kirby began, but Halkett interrupted.
“I have it right here,” she said.
“I’m not confirming that the — that the Israelis took this airstrike. I would refer you to them to speak to their military operations,” Kirby said.
“They haven’t denied it,” Halkett pushed back.
Kirby protested again, saying that he still was not prepared to speak for Israel with regard to whether or not they were responsible for a particular military action.
“They have a right and a responsibility to go after Hamas leadership, and we expect that they’ll do that in accordance with international law,” he said.
He went on to reiterate his initial statement, saying that the United States’ position in the region was purely a defensive one and was not designed to escalate things in any way.
“So, let me follow-up on that then. Given the Red Sea patrols, we knew in advance of those being set up that the Iranian defense minister said very clearly, ‘Nobody can make a move in a region where we have predominance.’ The United States knew that, set it up anyway. Is that not being seen as a provocation? If you know that Iran sees that as a provocation, you take the action anyway,” Halkett said.
“Wow. Well, that’s certainly turning things on their — upside down, isn’t it? Wouldn’t — wouldn’t you consider a provocation the launching of ballistic missiles and drones at commercial —” Kirby pushed back.
“Well, the United States —” Halkett interrupted.
“Wait, wait, wait. Let me —” Kirby tried again.
“— doesn’t have soil there,” Halkett completed her thought.
“Let me finish. Wouldn’t that be considered a provocation, taking — targeting innocent merchant shipping and innocent merchant sailors? That’s a provocation,” Kirby insisted, saying again that the United States was engaging in a purely defensive posture in the region.
“But it’s led to an escalation, because, in turn, what has happened is —” Halkett argued.
“No ma’am. No ma’am,” said Kirby.
“So, you’re denying, then, that there has been an escalation since the Red Sea patrol?” Halkett asked.
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“I totally disagree with the premise of your question,” Kirby said, noting that it was the Iran-backed Houthis who had been first to fire at the commercial shipping vessels – which, he argued, made Iran responsible for any escalation.
“The Houthis did that. And who are the Houthis backed by? Iran. As I’ve said before, Iran provided the missiles that the Houthis are using,” Kirby said again. “We are simply in a defensive posture to try to protect that commercial shipping, and we have in the last 48 hours.”
“And since then, there’s been an escalation. Now, Iran has launched a frigate into that. So, there has been escalation,” Halkett tried again.
“Okay, again, let me stop you. The fact that they —” Kirby replied.
“So, has the United — I ask you again: Has the United States’ actions supported an escalation as a result?” Halkett made one more attempt.
“No,” Kirby said.
Halkett tried to object once more, but Kirby made it clear that he was not having it: “You asked me a question, ma’am. I answered it. No.”