Republican lawmakers expressed their support for Israel following its recent strike on Iran, urging the public to pray for U.S. allies in the Middle East opposing Tehran’s growing nuclear ambitions and military actions.
“Game. Pray for Israel,” stated Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a pro-defense figure, in a post on Social Platform X on a Thursday night.
Other GOP members echoed similar sentiments as Israel initiated the attack that resulted in the deaths of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander Hossein Salami and two other Iranian generals.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) lauded former President Trump for his steadfast warnings against Iran acquiring nuclear arms, commending his ongoing efforts to prevent that outcome.
“Sadly, Iran has chosen not to cooperate and announced yesterday its plan to construct a new enrichment facility,” Johnson remarked in a post on X on Friday.
“Israel determined it needed to act to ensure its own safety,” he continued. “They absolutely had the right to do so. Iran will face serious repercussions if it unjustly targets our interests.”
Sen. James E. Risch, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, voiced his support for Israel on Thursday night following the strike.
“We stand with Israel in prayer for the safety of its citizens and the success of this defensive action,” he stated. “I also pray for our courageous service members in the Middle East who safeguard America – it would be foolish for Iran to attack the US.” Posted on X.
Israel has conducted at least five rounds of strikes against Iran, particularly targeting Natanz, one of its primary enrichment sites. The operations were stated to aim at preventing Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a video address, declared that the operation dubbed “Lion Lion” would persist “as long as necessary.”
“We struck at the core of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program and their weaponization efforts, focusing on Natanz,” he said in his speech. Share on X. “We targeted Iranian scientists involved in bomb development and also hit the center of Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities.”
Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, cautioned that Israel’s “reckless escalation” could provoke widespread violence in the region, endangering U.S. personnel stationed there.
“The dynamics between Israel and Iran are complex, and military actions of this scale are not the solution,” Reed remarked late Thursday.
“I call on both nations to exercise restraint and urge President Trump and our international partners to pursue diplomatic solutions before the situation escalates further,” the Democratic senator added. “President Trump must be forthright as Americans and the global community advance. We cannot afford to engage in more disastrous conflicts that arise from short-sighted violence.”
In response, Iran reportedly launched over 100 drones, some of which were intercepted by Israeli forces, according to officials.
Trump cautioned Iran on Friday morning that accepting nuclear agreements in the U.S. would lead to severe repercussions.
“I warned them that the United States possesses superior military technology, and that Israel will continue to have capabilities far beyond what they can anticipate or expect.”
He added in a follow-up post, “Now they have another opportunity!”
Amid rising tensions, Iran announced on Friday its withdrawal from the upcoming nuclear discussions anticipated in Oman on Sunday.
Source: thehill.com