One member of the House of Representatives accused the Biden administration of deliberately sabotaging its own efforts to stop attacks on U.S. soldiers in the Middle East following a series of airstrikes against Iranian-linked targets Friday. The comments came as the United States allegedly warned Iran of some of the sites to be struck, with no apparent Iranian casualties as a result.
Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) said this week that President Joe Biden’s retaliation for the deaths of three American military personnel was “deliberately” telegraphed to Iran. This, he argued eliminated “any elements of surprise.”
On social media, Waltz wrote that he would be “very interested to receive briefings on whether the telegraphing of these strikes over the past week by the Admin has allowed targets to escape or harden themselves.”
He also said that it was a “huge expenditure” of munitions that the United States needs, adding that this was because of a “failed Iran policy.”
I will be very interested to receive briefings on whether the telegraphing of these strikes over the past week by the Admin has allowed targets to escape or harden themselves.
It’s a huge expenditure of precision munitions from increasingly depleted stockpiles that are needed… https://t.co/94qYP2aZ8W
— Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) February 2, 2024
On Friday, American aircraft struck 85 targets in Iraq and Syria, reportedly killing more than a dozen militiamen. However, there were no reported casualties among the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
The spokesperson for one of the Iraqi militia groups said that while the American strikes would generate a response, the sites struck were “devoid of fighters and military personnel.”
Biden’s own words appeared to support Waltz’s argument. Prior to the strikes, Biden downplayed the chances of a wider response.
“I don’t think we need a wider war in the Middle East. That’s not what I’m looking for,” said the president.
In 2020, Biden condemned former President Donald Trump’s decision to strike and kill Iranian General Qassem Soleimani following an attack that killed an American contractor in Iraq.
Waltz said that Trump’s actions then “cut the head off the snake and the attacks stopped.”
“Biden’s weak leadership is costing American lives and empowering the Iranian regime,” he said.
Following the attacks, Iran vowed retaliation. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said that his country would “not start any war, but if anyone wants to bully us, they will receive a strong response.”
