Lawmakers react after Iran launches drones from its own territory towards Israel Saturday evening, calling on the White House to “stand firm” and “stop coddling Iran.”
President Mike Johnson pledged America’s “full resolve” to stand with Israel.
“As Israel faces this brutal attack from Iran, America must show its full resolve to stand with our critical ally,” Johnson said in a statement. “The world must be reassured: Israel is not alone.”
Johnson promised to “insist on an appropriate response” from the White House.
“I will continue to engage with the White House to insist on an appropriate response,” he said. “The Biden administration’s weakening of Israel and appeasement towards Iran have contributed to these terrible developments. »
Israeli army warns of ‘dangerous escalation’ by Iran and stands ‘ready’ to defend itself
President Mike Johnson talks about an election integrity package during a news conference with former President Trump. (Getty Images)
“Now more than ever, we must stand with Israel,” he said.former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthyR-Calif., wrote in an article
Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said America’s commitment to Israel is “unwavering.”
“This is the time for the United States to show that we stand with our allies. Our common enemies, including Iran and its proxies, must know that our commitment is unwavering,” he said in A press release. “We must join with Israel to ensure that Iran’s aggression is met with resolute action and resounding force.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, attends a Senate Judiciary Committee markup in the Hart Building, May 11, 2023, in Washington, DC (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, condemned the Iranian attack on Israel, while placing blame on the Biden administration.
“Iran has surrounded Israel and has been attacking our Israeli allies on almost every front for months. They have launched attacks from Syria, Iraq, Yemen, the West Bank, Hezbollah-controlled Lebanon and of course the Gaza Strip controlled by Hamas Now they have intensified their attacks by launching attacks directly from Iranian territory,” Cruz said in a statement. “These attacks are enabled and financed by deliberate policy choices made by Joe Biden and Biden officials, which have allowed an estimated $100 billion to flow into Iran since 2021. Americans and Israelis have been catastrophically rendered more vulnerable by these policies.”
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said President Biden must “stand firm” on Israel and “stop coddling” Iran.
“The Iranian drone strikes show us that President Biden’s approach to Iran and the Middle East is retrospective,” she wrote in an article. “Now that we risk entering the Third World War, the United States must respect Israel’s commitment to democracy. The president must stand firm and stop coddling Iran immediately.”
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., said the Iranian regime’s “constant” use of proxies “warrants” immediate U.S. action.
“Enough is enough – the Biden administration “We must take concrete steps to support Israel, our closest ally,” Lawler said in a press release. “This is a direct Iranian attack, after the regime has consistently used its proxies, that warrants immediate U.S. action to support any Israeli response.”
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem gestures as she speaks at the Calvin Coolidge Foundation conference at the Library of Congress, February 17, 2023, in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem wrote that she “expects” the Biden administration to “hold Iran accountable.”
WHITE HOUSE PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL AMID ATTACK ON IRAN, PREPARES FOR LONG-HOUR SHALLOW
“We stand with the people of Israel against this and callous attack“, Noem wrote in an X post. “Iran hates democracy, freedom and basic human rights, which makes it an enemy of Israel and the United States.”
“I expect the Biden administration to uphold these shared principles and hold Iran accountable,” she wrote.
Rep. Brian Mast, Republican of Florida, wrote that the attacks on Israel were a “direct result” of Biden’s “lack of leadership.”
“Iran just launched drone strikes on innocent Israeli civilians. This is a direct result of Joe Biden’s lack of leadership,” Mast wrote in an X post. “The White House should stand resolutely with of Israel instead, they spent months kissing until the end. terrorist regime in Tehran to appease a few vocal, far-left, anti-American lawmakers in Congress.”
President Biden boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on April 12. (Samuel Corum/AFP via Getty Images)
Biden was asked on Friday how imminent a potential attack on Israel from Tehran was following an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus in Syria.
“I don’t want to get into secure information, but I hope it’s sooner rather than later,” he responded.
“We are dedicated to the defense of Israel,” he added. “We will support Israel. We will defend, help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed.”
BIDEN SHORTS TRIP TO BEACH AMID POTENTIAL IRANIAN ATTACK ON ISRAEL
When asked what his message was to Tehran, Biden simply replied: “Don’t do it.” When asked to elaborate, he walked away.
Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-N.D., echoed Biden’s statement Friday, saying Israel has America’s “full support.”
President Biden speaks while in Israel for an Israeli war cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv, October 18, 2023, amid ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)
“Last week, President Biden sent a definitive message to Iran about this imminent attack: ‘Don’t do it.'” I reiterate what Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said clearly last week at the Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant: Israel has America’s full support in its defense against Iranian aggression,” Hoyer wrote in a press release.
“We support our ally as it exercises its absolute right to defend itself,” he said.
US officials reaffirmed their country’s “unwavering” support for Israel while calling for de-escalation.
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“We are dedicated to the defense of Israel. We will support Israel. We will help defend Israel, and Iran will not succeed,” Biden said Friday.
The Pentagon and the State Department have expressed similar positions.
