We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression
Of course they don't. They would be obliterated. Now, they also don't to be looked at as being pushovers, so they retaliated with what really amounted to a token attack -- a few missiles launched into a low value area, with advance warning as to not kill anybody.
All of this nonsense is posturing from both sides, which should not be believed.
The US finds out about a plan a few days away that will kill Americans and decides to kill a general. This is as stupid as the US finding out about 9/11 a few days earlier and decide the best course of action is to kill Bin Laden, as if that would stop a plan already in motion.
What was the plan? What did we do to actually stop it? Silence...
The orange agent walks away from this with an image boost, while American idiots pat themselves on the back, because they think the President cares about them.