Iran fires at Kuwait as US carries out this week’s strikes
WASHINGTON — Vice President JD Vance on Thursday rejected the use of the word “war” to describe the U.S. fighting with Iran, asserting that “right now, there is no active shooting.” The remarks came as Iran fired at U.S. Gulf ally Kuwait in retaliation for U.S. strikes earlier in the week.
At a White House press briefing, Vance was asked whether the fighting could be wrapped up before voters cast their ballots in the Nov. 3 congressional elections. The vice president declined to predict whether the six-month-old conflict would be over by the midterms, in which Republicans are trying to hang on to their narrow majorities in Congress.
“I wouldn’t call it a war,” Vance said. “Right now, there is no active shooting.”
Vance defended the U.S. military operations carried out earlier in the week, saying the United States had a “responsibility” to conduct the strikes because Iran continues targeting commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran fired at Kuwait on Thursday as it continued to retaliate for rounds of U.S. strikes on Iran earlier in the week. The exchange marked another round of direct military action between the United States and Iran in a conflict that has now entered its sixth month.