The White House said on Wednesday it does not see an escalation of conflict as inevitable following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, and the US is still working to reach a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Speaking at a daily briefing, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said it was too early to say whether the latest events in the Middle East would affect prospects for a ceasefire agreement.

Kirby said that the Israeli strikes in Lebanon and Iran are not helpful while they seek a ceasefire deal to end the conflict in the Middle East.

“These reports over the last 24, 48 hours certainly don’t help with the temperature going down,” John Kirby, the White House National Security Council communications adviser, told reporters. “We’re obviously concerned about escalation.”

“All of this adds to the complicated nature of what we’re trying to get done,” he said Wednesday during the White House press briefing. “What we’re trying to get done is a cease-fire deal that can get you six weeks in phase one, a lot of hostages, the most at risk, out of there and with their families again. And get some more humanitarian assistance in there.”

“When you have events, traumatic events, violent events caused by whatever, it certainly doesn’t make the task of achieving that outcome any easier,” Kirby added.