House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is calling on the Biden administration to release all previously withheld and delayed weapons to Israel, as tensions build between the Jewish state and Iran and its proxies. The weapons Johnson referred to are being delivered, but at a slower pace than they had been directly after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack began the current war in Gaza. After the attack, the U.S. moved weapons to Israel on an expedited basis, the State Department now says they are back to a normal process.
“After repeated attacks on American troops in the region, and while Israel is under threat from Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran, the U.S. cannot hesitate to defend our service members and our ally,” Johnson said in a statement Tuesday, Aug. 6.
“Any attack by Iran against Israel or American interests would be unjustified and met with decisive force,” Johnson added. “America and our allies and partners in the region should work together to strongly counter Iran and its terror proxies to send a clear message against these malign activities.”
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The Biden administration has been preparing for retaliatory attacks after Israel killed the political leader of Hamas and a top Hezbollah commander. American troops were also injured in a rocket strike at al-Asad Air Base on Monday, Aug. 5.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered an additional fighter jet squadron to the Middle East to bolster air defense support for Israel. He also ordered the deployment of ballistic missile defense-capable destroyers and cruisers.
President Biden withheld thousands of unguided bombs beginning in April, citing concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza. But those shipments resumed in July. Now, Republicans on Capitol Hill are pressuring the Biden administration to do even more.
“We know the current Iranian aggression, backed by Chinese and Russian interests, comes after a months-long pressure campaign against Israel from the Biden-Harris Administration,” Johnson stated. “Now is the time for the White House to realize their choices have brought us to the brink of disaster and give full-throated support to Israel.”
Defense Secretary Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday to assure him the United States fully supports Israel’s security and right to self-defense against Iran, Hezbollah, Houthis and any other Iran backed terror group.
