See how NC's members of Congress think the US should respond to Iran-backed attacks on American troops

Days after a drone strike against a U.S. Army base in Jordan killed three soldiers — which military officials are blaming on an Iranian-backed militia active in Iraq — North Carolina politicians on both sides of the aisle are calling for action.

Democratic President Joe Biden said Tuesday that he had decided how the U.S. will respond. But he declined to give specifics, except for saying he doesn’t wish to expand the burgeoning wars in the Middle East.

There’s a common thread to much of the current violence in the Middle East. Iranian-backed fighters in Yemen are behind recent attacks on international shipping that the U.S. Navy has been combating. Biden has also said Iran was behind the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas into Israel that started the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. Biden said the attack was meant to derail historic diplomatic talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia, two U.S. allies who nevertheless have had frosty relations with each other. Those talks were reportedly close in September. Yet the Saudis have since publicly backed away — after Israel’s counter-attacks into Gaza have killed 27,000 people so far, mostly women and children.

Numerous modern conflicts in the Middle East have been seen as proxy wars between Iran and its Russian backers against Saudi Arabia and its American backers.

WRAL News reached out to both of North Carolina’s U.S. Senators: Republicans Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, as well as all 14 of the state’s members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Each was asked the same two questions: How should America respond to the recent drone attacks by Iranian-backed militias? Is there anything that Congress specifically should do?

Most of the 16-member delegation responded. Here’s what they had to say.

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC: “Iranian proxies attacked American military assets 158 times over 100 days without a forceful response from President Biden and tragically it was only a matter of time until these attacks killed American servicemembers. The U.S. needs to respond quickly and deliberately against the Iranian regime and its proxies. It needs to be done diplomatically, economically, and militarily and it needs to be done now – the administration already has the constitutional authority to do this. America needs to send a clear message to Iran and the murderous terrorists that there will be severe consequences when they target our brave men and women in uniform.”

U.S. Sen. Ted Budd, R-NC: “Instead of beginning another ‘forever war’ or submitting to isolation, I would submit there is a better way. And we don’t have to go very far back in history to find it. After a single American contractor was killed at the hands of Iran in 2019, President (Donald) Trump ordered a strike that eliminated the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force: Qasem Soleimani.”

U.S. Rep. Don Davis, D-Greene: "While Americans mourn our three U.S. servicemembers killed in action, we must respond proportionally in a narrow and targeted way to cripple the capability of terrorists, militia groups, and their infrastructure while avoiding regional escalation."

U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross, D-Wake: “I am heartbroken that we lost three brave service members in a drone strike perpetrated by an Iran-backed militant group. These courageous Americans made the ultimate sacrifice, and we must never forget their service. I am praying for their families and for the safety of those who were injured. In President Biden, we have a Commander-in-Chief with extraordinary experience and judgment, and I have confidence that he will take appropriate action against those responsible for this despicable attack.”

U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy, R-Pitt: “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of these three American heroes who gave their lives serving our country for our freedom. The Biden Administration needs to wake up and realize its weakness has emboldened our enemies. Peace is only established through strength. After the disastrous and politically motivated withdrawal from Afghanistan, Russia invaded Ukraine, Hamas has now attacked Israel, the Houthis are currently attacking international cargo ships. Now, China is preparing to seize Taiwan. America needs to restore peace through strength immediately and ditch the failed policy employed over the last three years.”

U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee, D-Orange: “I was deeply saddened by the news of the drone strike in Jordan this past weekend that killed three servicemembers and injured dozens more. Their continued sacrifice and service for our nation will not be forgotten, and my heart is with their friends and family in the aftermath of this shocking attack. I am confident that President Biden will use his best judgment in taking appropriate action to hold the perpetrators of the strike accountable.”

U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-Watauga: No response.

U.S. Rep. Kathy Manning, D-Guilford: “I’m heartbroken to learn that 3 brave US servicemembers were killed in Jordan by Iranian-backed proxies. My thoughts are with the families of the soldiers who lost their lives and those injured. We must hold Iran accountable and Congress must be briefed by the Administration as soon as possible.”

U.S. Rep. David Rouzer, R-New Hanover: "Congressman Rouzer sent a letter this week to the Biden Admin on efforts to protect the supply chain amid Houthi attacks. He also joined the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee hearing examining the threats to shipping in the Red Sea due to Iranian-backed Houthi attacks against civilian and military vessels."

U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, R-Union: No response.

U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, R-Moore: “We are deeply saddened and infuriated by the loss of three U.S. soldiers, killed by an Iranian-backed drone attack. We are praying for their families and for a swift recovery to those who have been wounded. I hope the Biden administration sends a strong message that demonstrates to Iran and the world that these attacks on our military will not be tolerated.”

U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-Lincoln: No response.

U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-Henderson: No response.

U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, D-Mecklenburg: No response.

U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel, D-Wake: “Congressman Nickel supports a swift and calculated response to the Iranian-backed terrorist attack against American service members over the weekend. As a Member of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions, Congressman Nickel firmly believes that the United States must take immediate action to deny the Iranian regime additional financial resources that it can use to continue supporting terrorism.

"Yesterday, Congressman Nickel led a bipartisan effort calling on President Biden to start doing so by 'immediately cracking down on Iran’s expanding and lucrative illicit oil trade, which has surged in recent years despite international sanctions on Iran remaining in place.' Congressman Nickel has been outspoken on the need to hold the Iranian regime accountable by freezing their financial assets and helped pass legislation to crack down on Iran and illicit financing and address the situation in the Middle East.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson, D-Mecklenburg: "The United States has a duty to protect our service members and must respond swiftly and decisively to change Iran’s incentives away from supporting terrorist organizations, while being mindful of further escalation and putting more troops in harm's way. The President has made it clear the United States will respond. Congress, and especially the Armed Services Committee, must continue to receive timely updates on military operations to guide future legislative action.”