Top US general warns Iran to stay out of Israel’s conflict with Hamas

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General CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has warned Iran “not to get involved” in Hamas’s attack on Israel as the US and other allies seek to prevent the deadly conflict from expanding further.

Brown told a group of reporters on Monday evening that a recent US decision to move a carrier strike group and military aircraft closer to Israel was specifically aimed at deterring Iran. US officials are preparing for a long conflict and had made considerable effort over the weekend to discourage Israel’s enemies from taking advantage of the fresh turmoil unleashed by the attacks.

“Our force posture movements are not only in support of Israel but also to deter any other entities that might decide to support Hamas in this particular conflict with Israel,” said Brown in his first public comments as the US’s top general since taking up the role last week. He is travelling to Brussels for a meeting of a group of nearly 50 nations backing Ukraine in its war with Russia.

“We want to send a pretty strong message. We do not want this to broaden, and the idea is for Iran to get that message loud and clear,” he added.

American officials have said they do not have direct information to support reports that Iran was involved in planning Hamas’s attack but pointed out that Tehran is the group’s chief backer and has provided it with weapons and training. They are also concerned that Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hizbollah could enter the fray more directly and widen the war.

Earlier Monday, Israeli helicopters struck in Lebanese territory after Israel’s military said it killed a number of militants who had crossed into the country. In a statement confirming the deaths of three of its fighters, Hizbollah said it had fired rockets and mortars on two Israeli military posts across the border in Galilee.

Shortly before leaving Washington, Brown spoke with his Israeli counterpart Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, chief of staff of the Israeli military, to discuss the security situation in Israel and US steps to bolster regional deterrence.

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin has also offered planning and intelligence services to Israel’s defence minister Yoav Gallant as Israel begins to make plans to rescue hostages. US President Joe Biden said earlier Monday that the US believes that there are American nationals among those being held in Gaza.

Biden is expected to address the Hamas attacks in a speech from the White House on Tuesday.

Brown is heading to Brussels with the challenging mission of reassuring Ukraine’s supporters amid turmoil in Congress that threatened to delay the delivery of additional aid to Kyiv and the surprise conflict in the Middle East.

“Over the next few days I’ll be having meetings to reassure our partners,” he said. “I recognise that what’s going on in the US on the Hill . . . that they’ll have questions and concerns and I fully understand that.”