The US should support Israel in its retaliation against Iran, even if it includes a preemptive strike, Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick, J.D. Vance, said during a televised debate on CBS News on Tuesday.
A Republican senator from Ohio, Vance faced his Democratic opponent, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The debate started hours after Iran fired nearly 200 missiles at Israel. Most of the projectiles were intercepted mid-air, according to the IDF. The only reported casualty was a Palestinian man in the West Bank, who was killed by a falling missile fragment.
Read more: Iran fires barrage of missiles at Israel (VIDEOS)
Asked by a moderator if he would back an Israeli preemptive strike on Iran, Vance reaffirmed Washington’s long-standing support for the Jewish state.
“Look, it is up to Israel what they think they need to do to keep their country safe, and we should support our allies wherever they are when they’re fighting the bad guys. That’s the right approach to the Israel question,” Vance replied.
He went on to argue that Trump had kept America’s adversaries in check when he was president. “Trump actually delivered stability in the world, and he did it by establishing effective deterrence. People were afraid of stepping out of line,” Vance said.
Walz avoided answering directly if he would back an Israeli preemptive strike. He said, however, that “Israel’s ability to be able to defend itself is absolutely fundamental.”
The Democrat accused Trump of damaging the US standing in the world and criticized him for tearing up the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Read more: Iran comments on Israel attack
Iran is “closer to a nuclear weapon than it was before – because of Donald Trump’s fickle leadership,” Walz said.
Iran has claimed that the missile attacks were a response to the “genocide” committed by the IDF in Gaza and Lebanon.
The IDF launched a cross-border ground operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon on Tuesday. Israeli jets previously bombed Lebanon, killing several senior Hezbollah members, including the armed group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
The IDF said the goal of the operation is to prevent Hezbollah from firing rockets and mortars at Israeli cities in the northern part of the country.