Iran threatens to hold US 'accountable' for Israeli escalation by targeting military bases

Iranian officials on Friday claimed that the United States should be held "fully accountable" for recent escalations between its country and Israel, because the U.S. was a "backer" of the Middle Eastern country. 

Israel began launching preemptive strikes against Tehran on Thursday night, which continued on Friday with retaliation from Iran. President Donald Trump admitted on Friday that the United States knew about Israel's plan ahead of time, but hoped to spare Iran from a military defeat. 

Israel's attacks have largely targeted Iran's nuclear facilities, its military commanders and scientists, but Iran said that 78 people are dead and 320 are injured from the blasts. The United Nations Mission to Iran has also sent a letter to the UN's Security Council condemning the attacks. 

The United Nation's Mission to Iran sent the UN's Security Council a letter that "vehemently condemns" the recent attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities. 

"The Israeli regime and its backer—namely the United States—shall be held fully accountable for these blatant violations of international law and their grave consequences," the mission warned on X.

Iran's warning to the United States comes after the U.S. evacuated nonessential personnel from embassies in Iraq amid increased tension in the region. Iran has threatened to hit U.S. military bases in the Middle East.

Trump told reporters at the time of the evacuations that it was done out of an abundance of caution.

"I had to do it," he said. "We have a lot of American people in this area. And I said, we got to tell them to get out because something could happen soon, and I don't want to be the one that didn't give any warning and missiles are flying into their buildings."

It is not clear how many U.S. troops are still in the Middle East, but defense officials in October estimated 40,000 service members were stationed at 19 sites spread across the region, according to Fox News. 

Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said all the U.S. bases are within striking distance.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.