GOP Senators Urging Accountability For Attacks On US Troops

(DailyVantage.com) – Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, leading a group of GOP senators, has called on Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen to hold terrorist groups with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responsible for attacks on U.S. service members accountable.

In a letter, lawmakers highlighted recent incidents, including the killing of a U.S. citizen in Baghdad, the murder of a U.S. contractor, injuries to four U.S. service personnel in Syria, and the abduction of a U.S.-based researcher, all attributed to Iraq-based terror groups.

The senators pointed out that several of these Iraqi-based groups have been involved in dozens of attacks on U.S. service personnel in the region since last month. Despite their ties to the IRGC, these groups are not designated as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) under U.S. law.

Senators joining Cotton in this call include Roger Wicker (R-Miss), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn), and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa).

On Monday, a senior Iranian general, Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, stated that Tehran is not afraid of the U.S. and is currently in a position of strength, making them impervious to threats. He also mentioned that the U.S. is using a “language of request and plea” in diplomatic talks with Iran amid attacks on U.S. bases.

Last week, two U.S. F-15 jet fighters conducted airstrikes on a military storage site in eastern Syria operated by the IRGC and affiliated groups. In a press release, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that the precision counterattack was in response to attacks launched on U.S. personnel in Syria and Iraq carried out by affiliates of the IRGC-Quds Force. He also emphasized the president’s commitment to prioritizing the safety of U.S. personnel, making it clear that the United States would defend itself, its personnel, and its interests.

Additionally, Austin mentioned that the United States is fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect its people and facilities, urging against any escalation.