(NewsNation) — Senators Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., plan to introduce a resolution Monday that will recommend the U.S. launch military strikes against Iran if Hezbollah, Iran’s largest proxy , Front launches a second attack in the war with Israel.
The senators appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” to explain what is contained in the non-binding resolution.
“It basically says that if the war expands, if Hezbollah opens a second front against Israel in the north on a significant scale to overwhelm the Iron Dome, then we should attack the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Without the Ayatollah’s support there there is no Hamas. Without the support of the Ayatollah, there is no Hezbollah,” Graham said.
“It’s aggressive, but absolutely necessary,” Blumenthal said.
Blinken commutes from the West Bank to Iraq to contain the consequences of the Israel-Hamas war
As tensions rise along Israel’s northern border with Hezbollah in Lebanon, senators stressed the need for action. This resolution coincides with increasing hostilities as Iran’s proxy forces in Syria and Iraq step up attacks on U.S. troops stationed in those regions.
“The resolution puts Iran on notice that if you expand this war by activating Hezbollah or killing an American through your proxies in Syria and Iraq, the entire military force in the region will come after you,” Graham said. “That’s what they need to hear.”
Sources told NewsNation’s Joe Khalil, Democrats who are calling for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, could add their names to the resolution.
Arab leaders are now pushing for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Blinken says that could be counterproductive
Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah threatened increased tensions with Israel on Friday in his first public address since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
The US House of Representatives passed a bill to toughen sanctions on Iranian oil in a strong bipartisan vote on Friday. The same bill has been introduced in the Senate with bipartisan support, but it is not clear if or when the upper chamber will take it up.
The US recently sent 300 additional troops to the Middle East, bringing the total to over 900. The move comes as US troops in the Middle East have faced attacks from Iranian-backed proxy groups in the region. At least 27 attacks on US troops have been reported, including 16 in Iraq and 11 in Syria.
The US State Department has issued a travel advisory for Lebanon in response to Hezbollah threats and urged American citizens in the region to leave as soon as possible due to the unpredictable security situation.
The State Department issues a “global caution alert” for U.S. citizens
This development coincides with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, including his visit to the West Bank, where he met with the Palestinian president and reaffirmed the Biden administration’s commitment to providing vital assistance to Gaza.
The Pentagon is intensifying its preparations in the Middle East and expects attacks on US troops to escalate as more adversaries advance into the region.
The Defense Department said it was prepared to blame Iran and Iran-backed groups for the recent surge in drone and missile attacks on American troops in the Middle East.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a speech to the United Nations Security Council that Iran had supported Hamas, Hezbollah and other groups in attacks on Israel, even though the United States did not seek conflict with the country.
The Associated Press and NewsNation’s The Hill contributed to this report.
Source : www.newsnationnow.com