Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) stated on Friday that the U.S. commitment to Israel’s defense must be “ironclad” following the country’s attack on Iran on Thursday, a position that wasn’t shared by all members of his party.
“I have long said that Israel has a right to defend itself and that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Schumer said in a statement Friday. “Ensuring they never obtain one must remain a top national security priority.”
The attack from Israel, which is ongoing according to Israeli leaders, targeted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, its military hierarchy, and the country’s nuclear scientists.
“The preferred path to preventing a nuclear-armed Iran and for supporting security and stability in the region has always been a strong, unrelenting diplomatic effort backed by meaningful leverage, and every effort must be made to move toward the path of a diplomatic solution,” Schumer, Congress’ top Jewish elected official, added.
Other Democrats, however, including Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, were much more critical of Israel.
“Israel’s alarming decision to launch airstrikes on Iran is a reckless escalation that risks igniting regional violence,” Reed said in a statement Thursday.
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), also a member of the Armed Services panel, aligned with Schumer on Friday: “Israel acted in self-defense against an attack from Iran, and the U.S. must continue to stand with Israel, as it has for decades, at this dangerous moment.”
The Israeli strikes are expected to further widen the divide among Senate Democrats, splitting those who remain firmly supportive of Israel from those increasingly critical of its government’s leadership.
Many of the party’s usual far-left members were even more critical of Israel.
“The Israeli government bombing Iran is a dangerous escalation that could lead to regional war. War Criminal Netanyahu will do anything to maintain his grip on power. We cannot let him drag our country into a war with Iran. Our government must stop funding and supporting this rogue genocidal regime,” Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), who is of Palestinian descent, wrote on the X platform.
“Regardless of what Trump thinks, Israel knows America will do whatever they want and feels confident about their ability to get into war and have the American government back them up,” added Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), on the platform.
“Israel also knows they can always rely on getting America to protect and serve its needs. Everyone in America should prepare themselves to either see their tax dollars being spent on weapon supplies to Israel or be dragged into war with Iran if this escalates,” she added.
Both lawmakers have been frequently accused of using anti-Semitic language when it comes to discussing Israel.
U.S. air defense systems and a U.S. Navy destroyer assisted Israel in intercepting ballistic missiles launched by Iran on Friday in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites and senior military officials, according to U.S. officials on Friday.
The United States has deployed both Patriot missile defense systems and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems in the Middle East, both of which are capable of intercepting ballistic missiles. Iran fired multiple salvos in response to Israel’s initial attack.
A Navy destroyer positioned in the eastern Mediterranean also intercepted missiles bound for Israel, one official confirmed to The Associated Press.
In response to the escalating conflict, the U.S. is repositioning military assets in the region, including naval vessels.
The Navy has ordered the USS Thomas Hudner, a destroyer equipped with ballistic missile defense capabilities, to move from the western Mediterranean to the eastern Mediterranean, U.S. officials said. A second destroyer has also been directed to reposition forward, making it available for deployment if requested by the White House, the AP noted.
“American fighter jets also are patrolling the sky in the Middle East to protect personnel and installations, and air bases in the region are taking additional security precautions, the officials said,” AP reported.