Israel Strikes Iran Nuclear Sites, U.S. Lawmakers Divided Over Impact

Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, targeting Iran's nuclear and missile infrastructure, prompting retaliatory strikes from Iran and sparking a sharp political divide in the U.S. Democratic lawmakers criticized Israel's airstrikes as reckless and a threat to regional stability, arguing that these actions undermine diplomatic efforts and risk drawing the U.S. into a broader conflict. Conversely, many Republicans and some Democrats expressed strong support for Israel, framing the strikes as justified self-defense against Iran's nuclear ambitions and warning that Iran must never obtain nuclear weapons. Public opinion also reflected partisan differences, with a majority of Republicans supporting the airstrikes while most Democrats opposed them, according to a pre-attack poll. Senate Democrats remain divided, with some emphasizing the necessity of Israel’s right to defend itself and others condemning the escalation, while top Democratic leaders have yet to comment publicly. The strikes killed key Iranian military leaders and hit numerous targets, escalating tensions and raising concerns about a potential regional war.