A few of Wicker’s fellow Senate Republicans made related statements.
“The Biden Administration can take out all of the Iranian proxies they like, however it won’t deter Iranian aggression. I’m calling on the Biden Administration to strike targets of significance inside Iran, not solely as reprisal for the killing of our forces, however as deterrence in opposition to future aggression,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)
wrote. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) made an analogous name: “The one reply to those assaults should be devastating army retaliation in opposition to Iran’s terrorist forces, each in Iran and throughout the Center East.”
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) initially didn’t mince phrases: “Goal Tehran,”
he posted, earlier than
later clarifying that it was not a name to bomb Iranian civilians.
“America should ship a crystal clear message throughout the globe that assaults on our troops won’t be tolerated,” Republican Home Speaker Mike Johnson
said.
The tragedy, Majority Chief Steve Scalise
posted, “was avoidable.”
“For years now Biden has emboldened Iran — sending them billions & tolerating their aggression in opposition to our troops. America should present energy,” the No. 2 Home Republican stated.
The Home Intelligence Committee has requested a briefing on the state of affairs in Jordan, in response to an individual conversant in the request.
“It’s gone time for President Biden to lastly maintain the terrorist Iranian regime and their extremist proxies accountable for the assaults they’ve carried out in opposition to U.S. and coalition forces,” Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chair of the Home Armed Companies Committee stated in a press release.
Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), rating member of the Home Everlasting Choose Intelligence Committee, stated he was “heartbroken” for the service members who have been killed and urged the Biden administration to quickly reply.
“We should maintain these accountable accountable for this unjustifiable assault, and take additional steps to guard our personnel within the area. I anticipate the Intelligence Committee will obtain extra data on these efforts this week,” Himes stated in a press release.
Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell referred to as for motion that will cripple not simply the organizations finishing up the assaults, however “their Iranian sponsors who put on American blood as a badge of honor,” as effectively.
“The time to start out taking this aggression critically was lengthy earlier than extra courageous People misplaced their lives,” McConnell stated in a press release.
In a press release Sunday, President Joe Biden stated the U.S. knew the Saturday assault “was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant teams working in Syria and Iraq,” and pledged to “maintain all these accountable to account at a time and in a fashion our selecting.”
The president added: “Jill and I be part of the households and mates of our fallen — and People throughout the nation—in grieving the lack of these warriors on this despicable and wholly unjust assault. These service members embodied the perfect of our nation.” Each Biden and Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin vowed Sunday that the deadly assault wouldn’t go unanswered. “We’ll take all needed actions,” Austin stated.
Former President Donald Trump blasted Biden’s management, and claimed the assault by no means would’ve occurred had he nonetheless been within the White Home.
“This horrible day is but extra proof that we’d like an instantaneous return to PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, in order that there might be no extra chaos, no extra destruction, and no extra lack of treasured American lives,” Trump stated in a press release.
A number of Republican members of Congress additionally slammed Biden, tying his dealing with of the Center East to the assaults — and demanding revenge be sought in opposition to the attackers.
“Biden’s failure to isolate the regime in [Iran], defeat Hamas, & assist our strategic companions has emboldened the enemies of freedom,” Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.)
posted on X Sunday. “The President’s MidEast coverage is a complete catastrophe. And now our males & ladies are paying the value — with their lives.”
“3 patriots died whereas 25 extra have been injured,” Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.)
wrote. “Joe Biden has emboldened Iran and proven weak point on the worldwide stage. We’ve to have a stronger Commander-in-Chief.”
Saturday’s assaults, which additionally left 25 injured, marked the primary time American troops have been killed in months of assaults on U.S. forces throughout the Center East. Since October, there have been over 158 assaults on U.S. and allied forces in Iraq and Syria, although thus far they’ve prompted solely minor accidents and injury to infrastructure.
Final week, the U.S. carried out
assaults on Iran-backed targets in Iraq, concentrating on three services utilized by the Kataib Hezbollah militia group, in response to an earlier assault by the group that injured U.S. and Iraqi forces.
Vice President Kamala Harris stated Sunday that she and her husband Doug Emhoff have been mourning the lives misplaced within the assault, and he or she equally promised to “maintain these accountable to account.”
“Our prayers are with their family members and people injured. … Our total nation will endlessly honor these warriors, their service, and their final sacrifice,” she
posted on X. “As @POTUS has made clear, we are going to proceed to combat terrorism, and we are going to maintain all these accountable to account.”
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries stated he was “heartbroken and outraged,” by the deaths.
“Each single malignant actor accountable should be held accountable,”
he said on X, echoing Biden and Harris.
Rep. Dean Phillips, who’s mounting a quixotic presidential main problem to Biden, cautioned that inaction might make the state of affairs worse.
“Iranian proxies proceed to impress and kill People. Hamas kidnapped eight People and has held them hostage for over three months. If this continues to be tolerated, it’s going to solely worsen,”
Phillips said on X.
Others additionally supplied their condolences to the households of those that have been killed.
“We mourn the deaths of the three service members killed by a drone assault in Jordan from an Iran-backed militant group,” Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer stated in a press release. “We should work to carry these accountable accountable.”
“I’m horrified by the deaths of three courageous American servicemembers who have been killed by a drone assault in Jordan. I’m additionally praying for the protection of the handfuls who have been injured,” Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.)
wrote. “My coronary heart is with the households of these killed and injured.”
“My coronary heart is shattered after information that three U.S. servicemembers have been killed and dozens wounded from an assault launched by proxies of Iran’s regime,” Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-N.V.)
posted. “We’ll always remember their bravery, valor, and repair to our nation. Iran should be held accountable.”
Erin Banco, Anthony Adragna, Joe Gould, Joseph Gedeon and Connor O’Brien contributed to this report.
