Rubio fends off barrage of questions about why US started Iran attacks |
Rubio fends off barrage of questions about why US started Iran attacks
Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back on a barrage of questions from reporters about conflicting statements with the president over the intent and timing of the joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.
President Trump on Tuesday said it was his opinion that Iran was going to strike against U.S. interests in the region and that he “might” have forced Israel’s hand to launch strikes on Saturday morning.
That was a contradiction to Rubio’s comments on Monday night to reporters, in which he said the U.S. “knew there was going to be an Israeli action” and that the decision was made to join the strikes from an offensive point, rather than waiting to respond in a defensive manner.
The White House rejected that Trump and Rubio’s statements conflicted, and the secretary sought to further clarify his remarks with reporters on Capitol Hill ahead of a briefing with lawmakers.
“Let me answer because this is my press conference,” Rubio said in one tense back-and-forth.
“I was asked very specifically… did we go in because of Israel? I said no, this had to happen anyway.”
Rubio’s transcript from the day before stated clearly: “We knew there was going to be an Israeli action, we knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn’t preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties…”
At least six U.S. troops have been killed over the course of four days of military action.
The administration’s conflicting explanations are helping fuel Democrats’ criticisms against Trump for launching a war with Iran, triggering retaliatory strikes against U.S. allies and partners in the region, with American embassies, consulates and civilian areas like hotels under attack from missiles and drones. Iran has instituted a blockade on oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, increasing oil prices.
Sen. Angus King (I-Vt), who caucuses with Democrats, said Rubio’s statements pointing to Israel dictating U.S. military action as “breathtaking.”
“Have we now delegated the most solemn decision that can be made in our society, the decision to go to war, to another country?” King asked during a Senate Armed Services Hearing on Tuesday. “That’s the implication, the breathtaking implication of Secretary Rubio’s statement.”
And thousands of travelers are stranded in the Middle East as the war has restricted the airspace for planes to fly safely, while airports have also closed amid damages suffered from attacks.
Rubio was asked if there was a plan in place to evacuate Americans before the U.S. launched its attack on Iran.
He responded, “That’s the plan we’re trying to carry out,” but added airspace and airport closures are a “challenge.”
Democrats fumed at the administration on Tuesday for issuing an alert for Americans to immediately depart the Middle East but providing few resources for them to exit with commercial options shut down.
“So the State Department is forcing everyone to immediately leave the region but is also refusing to help people leave the region,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) posted on the social media site X in response to a post from the U.S. Embassy in Israel that it could not help Americans depart.
“The strike itself is illegal and disastrous, but their lack of readiness for what comes next is unforgivable as well. Incompetence everywhere.”
The State Department on Tuesday said it was looking into chartered flights and military evacuations.
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