US braces for Iran's response after nuclear program bombings
The State Department is warning Americans to stay on high alert following President Donald Trump's order to bomb Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend.
The State Department is warning Americans to stay on high alert following President Donald Trump's order to bomb Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend.
The State Department is warning Americans to stay on high alert following President Donald Trump's order to bomb Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend.
The , including troops and those abroad, to stay on high alert as the U.S. awaits Iran's response to bombings of its nuclear program. President Donald Trump ordered B-2 stealth bombers to carry out the strikes over the weekend.
"The conflict between Israel and Iran has resulted in disruptions to travel and periodic closure of airspace across the Middle East," website read. "There is the potential for demonstrations against U.S. citizens and interests abroad."
The Defense Department says it is taking extra steps to protect U.S. troops and bases in the Middle East while assessing the damage. Satellite photos show destruction at two nuclear sites, and video shows smoke billowing from another location critical to Iran's nuclear program.
Trump, , described the damage as "monumental" and warned Iran against any retaliatory attack.
"Do they attack American troops in the region? If they do, as the president said, you're going to see overwhelming force from the Americans. If they continue to pursue a nuclear weapon, you're also going to see overwhelming force from the American people," Vice President JD Vance said on ABC News' "This Week." "We've got really the ball in Iran's court here."
While Iran's Supreme Leader has warned of "crushing" retaliation, Washington lawmakers are voicing mixed reactions over the strikes. Republicans overall are falling in line with Trump, saying the bombings were necessary to end its nuclear program.
The White House claims the strikes are part of its "peace through strength" diplomacy and aims to continue negotiations with Iran on a nuclear treaty.
Meanwhile, in , Trump suggested the possibility of regime change in Iran, a notion that the vice president, secretary of state and Republican lawmakers say was not the goal of the strikes.
Lawmakers' reactions have been mixed, with Republicans mostly supporting the president's action.
"For 25 years, American presidents have worried about them getting a nuclear weapon, have said that they'd never be allowed to," , said. "Finally, President Trump has taken decisive action to ensure that they're not going to get nuclear weapons on his watch."
"This was the right call at the right time. It stopped their program from advancing even further,", said. "Iran with a nuclear weapon is an existential threat to the state of Israel. The country is in the hands of religious Nazis. They want to kill all the Jews. And they're coming after us. And they were set back."
But at least one Republican, , argues the attacks risk the U.S. getting involved in "endless wars" overseas.
"I represent part of the coalition that elected President Trump. We were tired of endless wars in the Middle East, and tired of wars in eastern Europe, and we were promised that we would put our veterans, our immigration policies and our infrastructure first," Massie said. "Iran -- the reality is, they don't have a missile that can reach the United States. They're not near to getting a missile that can reach the United States."
Democrats largely expressed outrage, many voicing concerns over not being told or asked for their approval of the strikes beforehand.
"At this moment, is to say no to the Netanyahu-Trump war in Iran," , said.
"It's not an operation that should have ever been authorized by the president in the absence of intelligence, showing that Iran had made the decision to break out and build a bomb," , said. "This is a nefarious regime that is a preeminent state sponsor of terror. It should have never been pursuing a nuclear program."