Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) called for the United States to back Israel in its efforts to neutralize Hezbollah, urging the country to “let Israel win” against the Iranian-backed terrorist group. In an interview on CBS News’s Face the Nation, Cotton, a member of the Senate armed services and intelligence committees, expressed strong opposition to any ceasefire or de-escalation efforts in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Cotton argued that Israel’s recent strikes have dealt a significant blow to Hezbollah’s leadership, including the killing of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and that the US should support Israel in completely dismantling the group’s remaining capabilities. He emphasized that the destruction of Hezbollah’s leadership and military infrastructure would leave Iran vulnerable.
The senator criticized the Biden administration’s response to Iranian aggression, describing it as one of appeasement. He claimed that the administration’s approach has emboldened Iran and its proxies to attack US interests, including US sailors in the Red Sea.
Cotton also criticized Vice President Kamala Harris, saying she is the “Ayatollah’s handpicked candidate” due to her opposition to President Trump’s strike that killed Iranian terrorist mastermind Qasem Soleimani in 2020. He accused the Biden administration of enabling Iran’s actions by providing sanctions relief and looking the other way as Iran violates sanctions.
The senator argued that the US should support Israel in eliminating Hezbollah’s remaining forces, including a potential ground invasion of Lebanon if necessary. He emphasized the importance of eliminating Hezbollah’s military infrastructure to prevent future threats.
Cotton’s comments come after President Biden called for a ceasefire in Lebanon on Saturday evening, hours after the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was confirmed.
