Republican leaders have expressed support for President Biden's decision to launch coordinated airstrikes against Houthi rebel targets in Yemen.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a statement: “We welcome the U.S. and coalition operations against Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists who have violently disrupted international commerce and attacked U.S. ships in the Red Sea.” said. “President Biden's decision to use military force against these Iranian proxies is premature.”
“We hope these operations signal a lasting change in the Biden administration's approach to Iran and its proxies. To restore deterrence and change Iran's calculus, we need Iranian guidance. “We must believe that unless those individuals themselves renounce their global terrorist activities, they will pay a significant price,'' he added.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mike McCaul (R-Texas) also praised the action, saying he was meeting with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when the airstrike was called. He called on Biden to restore the terrorist designation of the Houthis.
“After weeks of instability in the Red Sea, I am pleased that the President is working with our allies to finally take action against the Iranian-backed Houthis. With tonight's strikes, we restore deterrence. The administration should recognize that.''It was a mistake to revoke the designation of the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization and immediately re-designate them.''
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, similarly called the move “overdue,” saying the Biden administration is encouraging an increasingly hostile situation in the Red Sea. However, the attack “would be a good first step towards restoring deterrence in the Red Sea.”
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell praised the Biden administration's decision to strike targets in Yemen (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
“We are grateful that the administration has taken the advice of regional commanders and targeted key positions within Houthi-controlled Yemeni territory. We will follow this action in close consultation with our Saudi partners as the situation evolves. That's important,” Wicker said.
“This attack does not change the fundamental facts: For weeks, the Houthis have been firing drones and missiles at our sailors, while the Biden administration has trumpeted a maritime task force… The time has come to stop the empty talk of “joint resolutions'' and “joint resolutions.'' “Maritime Task Force.'' The attack should serve as a warning to the Houthis and other Iranian proxies that they will suffer devastating consequences from regional escalation. ”
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President Biden announced in a statement that the United States led a coordinated airstrike in Yemen with support from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Bahrain.
He said the targets were “used by Houthi rebels to jeopardize freedom of navigation in one of the world's most important waterways.”
President Biden announces joint attack Thursday night (Fox News Digital Image Direct)
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R.S.C.), an ally of former President Trump, warned that the Biden administration would “attack Houthi rebels who are harassing international shipping and attempting to attack Israeli and American interests.” We strongly support the decision.”
“It is long past time to let Iran know that it will hold its proxies, in this case the Houthi rebels, accountable for their actions. The only language that Islamic extremist groups understand is force. “I hope to understand that the policy of deterrence has completely failed,” Graham wrote to X.
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Even rank-and-file Republicans have voiced cautious but rare praise for the move. Rep. John James (R-Mich.), a veteran of the Iraq war, told Fox News Digital: “The Houthis are a terrorist organization. They have been attacking U.S. military personnel since late last year, and they are destroying them. I have to,” he said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R.S.C.) also supported the move. (AP Photo/Patrick Semanski)
“We pray for the safety of our brave service members in action,” James said.
Top Democrats in Congress support Biden's move, but some on the far left are outraged that he bypassed the Capitol to do so.
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“While I support these targeted and proportionate military strikes, I urge the Biden administration to continue its diplomatic efforts to avoid escalation to a broader regional war and to follow the strategy and policies required by law. We urge Congress to continue to engage with us on the details of the legal basis,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
But California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna said, “The president needs to come to Congress before he launches an attack against the Houthis in Yemen and drags us into another Middle East conflict.”
