The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Q. Brown Jr., warned Iran to not get involved in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Financial Times quoting US top commander said: “We want to send a pretty strong message,”

Brown said while en route to a meeting in Brussels to discuss Ukraine.

“We do not want this to broaden, and the idea is for Iran to get that message loud and clear.”

The US is sending the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the eastern Mediterranean to bolster deterrence efforts. The group includes an aircraft carrier, a guided missile cruiser, and guided missile destroyers.

‘Iran is not involved’

Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations has denied Tehran is involved in the Hamas militant group’s surprise attack on Israel.

The statement is the latest in a series of conflicting claims that has emerged after the unprecedented stealth assault raised concerns that Iran may have been involved, given Tehran’s long-time support for Hamas and its cause.

“Iran unwaveringly stands in solidarity with Palestine; however, it is important to note that Iran is not involved in Palestine’s response, as these actions are solely determined by the Palestinians themselves,” Iran’s Mission to the United Nations said in a statement dated Oct 9.

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Earlier, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the first tranche of a security aid package for Israel was already on the way and that additional assistance would be announced soon.

“US wanted to press ahead with diplomacy to normalize ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel after the Hamas attack.”

US President Joe Biden said at least 11 American citizens had died, and “it is likely” that others were being held hostage by Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the response had only started and what we will do to the enemy will echo down through generations.