Pentagon official says Israel, not the US, was responsible for the strike that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, clarifying Washington’s military objectives.
WASHINGTON: The Pentagon’s top policy official distanced the United States from the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, stating it was an Israeli operation.
Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Elbridge Colby said the strike that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior leaders was not part of the American military campaign.
“Those are Israeli operations,” Colby said when pressed by lawmakers.
His restrained tone contrasted with President Donald Trump’s triumphant framing of the conflict since strikes began.
Trump said in a social media post that Khamenei was “unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems”.
The president added that, “working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested the US role was reactive after learning Israel was preparing to strike.
Colby sought to narrow the publicly stated scope of US objectives in the region.
“The objectives of the military campaign… are focused on addressing the ability of the Islamic Republic to project military power against us, our bases, our forces, et cetera, as well as our allies and partners in the region and beyond,” he said.
He described primary targets as Iran’s missile firepower and production capacity, plus elements of its navy.
Those goals were “scoped and reasonable objectives that can be attained,” Colby argued.
Pressed on how the killing of Iran’s top leader fit with US objectives, Colby reiterated he was “talking about the goals of the American military campaign”.
He maintained the leadership strikes were separate Israeli actions.
While Trump has urged Iranians to seize an “unprecedented opportunity” for change, Colby said the US campaign focuses on degrading military capabilities, not explicitly on regime change.
