US not seeking ''escalation'' with Iran after strikes: Official

United States is t seeking to escalate its simmering conflict with Iran, a senior official said Monday after Pentagon launched airstrikes on Tehran-allied Iraqi militia forces.

US Assistant Secretary of State David Schenker said Sunday strikes on Hezbollah Briges bases were a mess to Iran after months of "restraint" by ministration of President Donald Trump.

Schenker said strikes, which reportedly killed 25, were to retaliate for death Friday of a US civilian contractor in Kirkuk in a Hezbollah Briges rocket attack.

"We thought it important to hit a significant target set to send a very clear mess to m about how serious we take American lives," Schenker told reporters. "This was a response that was serious but was, I think in many ways, proportionate," he said. "We don't want an escalation here, we want a de-escalation."

Brian Hook, State Department's Special Representative for Iran, said Washington h held back from responding despite a series of attacks tied to Iran, including 11 rocket assaults on US and coalition installations in Iraq since October.

" president has been very patient. He has shown a great deal of restraint," Hook said.

"We very much hoped that Iran would t miscalculate and confuse our restraint for weakness. But after so many attacks, it was important for president to direct our armed forces to respond in a way that Iranian regime will understand." "We will t tolerate attacks against US citizens, our military or our partners and allies in region," Hook ded.

On Sunday night, US planes hit several bases in Iraq and Syria belonging to Hezbollah Briges, one of most rical factions in Hashed al-Shaabi, an Iraqi paramilitary coalition.

strikes "killed 25 and wounded 51, including commanders and fighters, and toll could yet rise," according to Hashed, which has significant influence in Iraq.