Shapiro served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East until January—charged with, among other things, considering scenarios in which tensions between Israel and Iran escalated into all-out war and preparing U.

Iran launched multiple deadly waves of missiles and drones toward Israel into Saturday morning following Israel’s unprecedented strikes aimed at destroying Iran’s nuclear program and decapitating its military leadership.

Israel on Saturday threatened to strike "every target of the ayatollah regime" in Iran, whose president warned of a severe response if the Israeli attacks continue, fuelling fears of an escalating conflict.