A cargo ship in the Red Sea was targeted by Houthi rebels, sparking growing unrest in the Middle East. Retired Gen. Jack Keane, a senior strategic analyst, provides analysis on the situation. In response to the attacks by Iranian military proxies on U.S. military service members in Iraq and Syria, Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) have introduced a resolution condemning these actions. The resolution is the first of its kind and aims to address the Iranian regime’s continuous attacks on Americans, allies, and interests in the region.
In a statement, Senator Cruz highlighted the Iranian regime’s indiscriminate attacks on Israeli and Arab allies, as well as the Houthi proxies’ attempts to disrupt vital navigation routes. He emphasized the need for the Biden administration to take decisive action to deter and counter these activities, stating, “Enough is enough.”
Senator Coons echoed Cruz’s concerns and emphasized the importance of a swift and forceful response from the Biden administration. He called for increased pressure on Iran to cease its support for violent militia groups and to support efforts to deter Iranian-backed militia attacks on U.S. troops and the international community.
The Senate resolution has garnered bipartisan support from cosponsors including Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Katie Britt (R-Ala), John Barrasso (R-Wyo), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev), Tim Scott (R-S.C), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H), Michael Bennet (D-Colo), and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska).
The recent attacks on U.S. military bases in Iraq and Syria have raised concerns about the Biden administration’s deals with Iran. Critics argue that the administration’s approach, including a reported $6 billion prisoner exchange, has come under scrutiny due to the attacks. Since October 7, when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, there has been an uptick in Iranian proxies targeting American troops in Iraq and Syria. Iran is believed to provide financing and training to militia groups in the region.
The attacks have been claimed by an umbrella group of Iran-backed Iraqi militants known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq. These militants justify their actions as retaliation for Washington’s support of Israel and its military presence in Iraq and Syria. Iran’s influence in Iraq is significant, and a coalition of Iran-backed groups played a role in bringing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to power in October 2022. However, there are also around 2,000 U.S. troops in Iraq under an agreement with Baghdad, primarily to counter the militant Islamic State group.
Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) has criticized the Biden administration’s response to Iran, calling for a tougher stance and “massive retaliation” to end attacks on U.S. assets. Cotton argues that Iran has attacked American positions in the Middle East over 150 times since President Biden took office. He suggests targeting Iranians operating in Iraq and Syria as a response.
The introduction of this bipartisan resolution and the ongoing attacks by Iranian proxies highlight the need for the Biden administration to address the escalating tensions in the Middle East. The resolution calls for increased pressure on Iran to cease supporting violent militia groups and to deter further attacks on U.S. troops and the international community.
In conclusion, Senators Cruz and Coons’ joint resolution aims to condemn Iranian attacks on U.S. military service members in Iraq and Syria. The resolution has received bipartisan support and emphasizes the need for the Biden administration to take decisive action. The ongoing attacks and the involvement of Iran-backed militant groups in the region highlight the growing unrest and the challenges faced by the U.S. government in the Middle East.
