Rubio says US open to diplomacy after ninth night of bombing Iran
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US is 'always open to a diplomatic solution' after American forces struck Iran for the ninth consecutive night. The Pentagon confirmed the deaths of three US soldiers as Iranian retaliatory attacks intensified across the region.
The Bombing Campaign
US forces conducted airstrikes against Iranian targets for the ninth night in a row, according to US Central Command. The strikes targeted missile batteries and drone launch sites in western Iran. The campaign began on July 12 following a drone attack on a US base in Iraq that killed three American contractors.
Diplomatic Signals
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in Washington that the US remains 'always open to a diplomatic solution' despite the ongoing strikes. He did not specify conditions for negotiations. The statement came hours after Iran's Foreign Ministry called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting.
Regional Escalation
Iranian-backed militias launched retaliatory rocket attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria, killing three US soldiers, the Pentagon said. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for a missile strike on an Israeli port. The US Navy deployed an additional destroyer to the Persian Gulf.
Iran Warns Against Ground Invasion
Iran's foreign ministry has warned against any US ground invasion. The warning comes as both sides trade strikes in the ongoing conflict.
What's Next
The UN Security Council is expected to meet on Monday to discuss the crisis. It remains unclear whether the US and Iran will engage in direct talks or if the strikes will continue.
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Rubio says US open to diplomacy after ninth night of bombing Iran
