CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie assessed that “we remain in a period of heightened risk… I would just emphasise this key point: We’re not looking to escalate ourselves. We’re not looking for war with Iran, I really want to emphasise that”, adding: “It is my belief that Iran doesn’t want a war with the U.S. right now”. McKenzie also noted that “launching over 20 rockets at the U.S. embassy [in Baghdad] is certainly an escalation”.