McCall: The Islamic Republic Questions the Resolve of the United States with Proxy Attacks

Michael McCall, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, stated in an interview with Fox News that the Islamic Republic questions the resolve of the United States with its proxy attacks and that they must be dealt with forcefully for deterrence. McCall mentioned that there have been over 90 attacks on U.S. military units by Islamic Republic-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, most of which have not received an adequate response. He said, 'I completely agree with General Jack Keane's idea that they understand nothing but the language of force. If we want real deterrence, we must deal with them powerfully.' McCall also expressed respect for the government's decision to deploy an aircraft carrier in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf, as well as two destroyers in the Red Sea to confront the Houthis, but noted that these actions still raise questions about the United States' determination to respond. He emphasized that the U.S. military is not authorized by Congress to attack the Islamic Republic of Iran, but we can engage in self-defense against proxies. McCall stated, 'We in the House Foreign Affairs Committee are considering placing Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and other proxies on the list of terrorist organizations.' In response to the host's question about the nature of the response, he said he does not agree with attacking Iran's borders as it would escalate the crisis. McCall noted, 'The main goal right now is to deal with Hamas in Gaza, and we are not looking for Hezbollah to put pressure on the Iron Dome by firing thousands of rockets, forcing the U.S. into conflict.' He added that all these proxies are supported by the Islamic Republic, Russia, and China, and these threats jeopardize U.S. national security. He stated, 'I don't think the Islamic Republic is looking to escalate tensions, but they want to test our threshold for provocation. No one is happier about this than Putin and Xi Jinping, as they believe they can divert our attention from Europe and the Pacific region.' John Kirby, the National Security Council's Strategic Communications Coordinator, said on Thursday, December 7, that the U.S. Departments of Defense and State have begun coordinating efforts to strengthen and expand a 39-member maritime force. According to Kirby, this force is aimed at countering both state and non-state actors in international waters, with the goal of enhancing maritime security to combat piracy and trafficking. He continued, 'Our current focus is to ensure that there is enough military equipment to prevent Houthi actions that threaten maritime trade in the Red Sea and surrounding waters, and consequently the global economy.'