Former National Security Adviser John Bolton said the United States needs to launch “disproportionate” strikes by hitting targets inside Iran in response to the deadly drone attack on U.S. forces that killed three American soldiers in Jordan over the weekend.
Mr. Bolton suggested that U.S. retaliatory strikes should target the alleged source of the attacks, the Iranian regime, rather than solely focusing on the Iran-backed proxies carrying out the attacks. He said there is a need for a response that goes beyond a simple tit-for-tat, advocating for more significant and impactful action.
“To be clear, I don’t think it should be proportionate. I think it should be disproportionate. That’s how you create deterrence in the mind of your adversary, that the cost to them of attacking our forces is so high they won’t do it again,” Mr. Bolton said.
At least 34 soldiers were wounded, with injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to traumatic brain injuries, according to U.S. officials. Eight were medically evacuated, and the most seriously injured service member is currently in critical but stable condition. Iran has denied involvement.
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, Iran-backed groups have carried out several attacks on U.S. forces across the Middle East. The fatalities appear to be the first deaths connected to such attacks, the White House and military officials confirmed.
Mr. Bolton said Iran is the “center of the problem in the Middle East today” and suggested several potential targets, including Iran’s naval vessels in the Red Sea, Quds Force bases, or air defense systems inside Iran. “Any or all of them could be targets,” Mr. Bolton said. “None of that threatens the regime, but it sends a very clear message.”
He continued by suggesting that U.S. forces could also aim at Iran’s oil facilities or even its nuclear facilities, noting that the “initial response has to be very tough.”
In addition, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) also demands President Biden take decisive actions against Iran in response to the attack, saying, “Hit Iran now. Hit them hard.”
‘We Are Not Looking For a War With Iran’
Meanwhile, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told news outlets that the Biden administration isn’t seeking to get into another conflict in the Middle East.“We are not looking for a war with Iran. We are not looking to escalate the tensions any more than they already have been escalating,” Mr. Kirby told reporters.
“That said, this was a very serious attack. It had lethal consequences. We will respond, and we respond appropriately.”
Iran-backed groups have attacked U.S. troops in the region over 150 times since the war started, in response to the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas in Israel that killed about 1,200 people. Approximately 2,500 U.S. troops are stationed in Iraq and 900 in Syria to prevent a resurgence of ISIS, a designated terrorist group.
President Joe Biden has previously ordered retaliatory attacks on Iran-backed groups but has so far stopped short of hitting Iran directly.
“Have no doubt, we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing,” President Biden said on Jan. 28, while Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said: “The president and I will not tolerate attacks on U.S. forces, and we will take all necessary actions to defend the U.S. and our troops.”
