Austin News

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has released a statement concerning the recent Israeli military strikes in Lebanon.

"Hezbollah exerts far-reaching control over Lebanon’s territory, governance, and infrastructure, and they have transformed vast regions of the country into a military terrorist base," Cruz stated. "They have stockpiled hundreds of thousands of rockets, missiles, precision munitions, and other weapons, which they have placed behind a vast network of human shields, including by placing uncountable ready-to-launch projectiles in civilian homes and buildings across the country."

Cruz emphasized that Hezbollah's strategy aims to generate civilian casualties to incite international pressure against Israel. "Hezbollah believes that the civilian casualties they generate through their use of human shields will trigger international pressure against and demonization of our Israeli allies," he said. He also criticized what he termed as "the inexcusable complicity and participation" of officials from the Biden-Harris administration.

The senator further noted Iran's involvement in regional conflicts since October through its support for groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. "Since October, Iran has been using its terrorist groups across the Middle East, including Hamas and Hezbollah, to wage war against Israel," Cruz mentioned.

Cruz concluded by asserting Israel's right to defend itself and called on the U.S. administration to change its stance. "The Israeli government has the right and obligation to respond and protect the Israeli people," he said. "It is imperative for that the Biden-Harris administration to reverse its policy of equivocating between Israel and Hezbollah, and for the United States to unequivocally stand with our Israeli allies as they respond to the attacks Iran has been waging through Hezbollah."

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