US not seeking 'escalation' with Iran after strikes: official

The United States is not seeking to escalate its simmering conflict with Iran, a senior official said Monday after the Pentagon launched air strikes on Tehran-allied Iraqi militia forces.

US Assistant Secretary of State David Schenker said the Sunday strikes on Hezbollah Brigades bases were a message to Iran after months of "restraint" by the administration of President Donald Trump.

Schenker said the strikes, which reportedly killed 25, were to retaliate for the death Friday of a US civilian contractor in Kirkuk in a Hezbollah Brigades rocket attack.

"We thought it important to hit a significant target set to send a very clear message to them about how serious we take American lives," Schenker told reporters.

"This was a response that was serious, but was, I think in many ways, proportionate," he said.

"We don't want an escalation here, we want a de-escalation."
"We very much hoped that Iran would not miscalculate and confuse our restraint for weakness. But after so many attacks, it was important for the president to direct our armed forces to respond in a way that the Iranian regime will understand."