House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul said Monday his committee is working on a bill to give the green light to U.S. forces in the Middle East if the conflict between Israel and Hamas leads to a broader proxy war should become Iran.
McCaul’s comments, made during an interview with CNN, came as the White House announced that President Joe Biden would travel to Israel and Jordan to calm tensions as the crisis deepens.
The Texas Republican wouldn’t say whether the White House had asked his committee to draft an official “authorization for the use of military force,” telling the network, “I don’t want to confirm that.” The only concern is that we, I am currently in the process of designing one, should the need arise.’
He also told CNN he hoped the US would not have to deploy ground troops.
“I hope I never have to put a markup on this bill,” McCaul said. “But we have a situation in the Middle East that is increasing in intensity every day, and if Hezbollah gets involved, Iran has already threatened if Gaza leaves, you know, if Israel leaves, you know if.” [Israel Defense Force] go to Gaza that they will come out.’
Israeli soldiers are stationed in tanks near the border with the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul said Monday that his committee is drafting legislation to give the green light to U.S. forces in the Middle East if the conflict worsens
House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul said on CNN that his committee is preparing an authorization for the use of military force in the event that the current crisis in the Middle East escalates into a proxy war with Iran
Hezbollah is the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group that has been engaged in a shootout with Israel on the country’s northern border.
Sources told Portal that last week’s Hezbollah attacks so far had been designed to be contained to prevent another major war.
Israel’s defense minister said on Sunday that Israel had no interest in waging war on its northern border.
At the same time, the Pentagon has reportedly selected 2,000 troops to deploy to the Middle East, with officials saying Monday that they would serve in a medical or advisory capacity and not be involved in combat operations.
In addition, the Pentagon sent a second carrier strike group, centered on the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, toward the eastern Mediterranean on Friday.
A carrier strike group is a naval force consisting of a central aircraft carrier as well as support ships and attack submarines.
The U.S. military has 11 carrier strike groups, each with enough firepower to rival the militaries of many small and medium-sized countries.
Sailors guard the tracks of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group deployed Friday from Norfolk, Virginia, and will join the USS Gerald R. Ford in the eastern Mediterranean
The USS Gerald R. Ford (pictured) was ordered to the region on Sunday, October 8, hours after Hamas’ violent terrorist attack on Israel
The carrier strike group around the USS Gerald R. Ford was already stationed in the region.
It is considered the most advanced aircraft carrier in the fleet.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford on Sunday, October 8, just hours after the brutal Hamas terrorist attack that sparked the current crisis.
Since then, more than 1,500 Israelis have lost their lives.
More than 3,000 Palestinians were killed in Gaza.
30 Americans were killed in the conflict.
The presence of the Navy’s two most powerful warships is intended to deter Iran and its proxies, including Hezbollah, from stepping down.
McCaul told CNN he was hesitant to name Iran in the first draft of the authorization to use military force.
“I would rather not include Iran as a nation state.” There would be more proxies of Iran, you know, like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Iran-backed Shiite militias, but if Iran were to be directly involved, we would have to put on the list,” he said.