US Secretary of State Rubio outlines a "defensive" position against threats to the forces and shipping:
"The US is acting defensively. If there is a threat to our forces in the area, we will act against them. If there is a threat to the shipment, we have been protecting the shipment for some time.
So if there is a threat to shipping or our forces in the area, we have a right to defend ourselves. So this is all determined by the level of threat and whether they are coming after us or may come after us. It's just normal. ".