Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) urged Israel on Sunday to make a bold threat against Iran, suggesting that Israel should target Iran’s oil refineries if Hamas does not soon release the remaining hostages from its October 7 terrorist attack.
“I think we got to remember that the October 7th attack was generated, in my view, to stop normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel. It’s a nightmare for Iran and her proxies, for the Arabs and Israelis to reconcile and make peace and take the region in a different direction,” Graham stated during a CNN interview. He added that Iran should be held accountable for the condition of the hostages.
Graham proposed that Israel should make it clear to Iran’s leadership that if the hostages are not returned safely and the bodies of the deceased are not recovered, Israel would retaliate by destroying Iran’s oil refineries. “That’s the only way you’re ever going to get the hostages released is to put pressure on Iran,” he asserted.
As a long-time advocate for Israel, Graham has been vocal in his support. He recently criticized the Biden administration, suggesting that any delay in US military aid to Israel would be a reward for Hamas’s tactics, which put civilians in harm’s way.
Graham has also been a strong critic of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). In March, he declared that the organization is “dead to the Congress” and “dead to the United States.”
In November, Graham issued a stern warning to Iran, cautioning against further involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict: “Iran, if you escalate this war, we’re coming for you.”
His remarks came shortly after Israel conducted a preemptive strike in Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah from targeting key sites within Israel.
Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu spoke about the strike at the beginning of the Cabinet meeting, stating, “What happened today is not the end of the story. Hezbollah tried this morning to attack the State of Israel with rockets and UAVs. We order the IDF to carry out a powerful preventative attack to remove the threat.”
Netanyahu emphasized the effectiveness of Israel’s response, saying, “We are striking Hezbollah with surprising crushing blows. Three weeks ago, we eliminated its military chief and today we foiled its attack plans. Nasrallah in Beirut and Khamenei in Tehran must know that this is another step to change the situation in the north and to bring our residents home safely. And I reiterate- this is not the end of the story.”
{Matzav.com}