On the evening of April 17, following his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron confirmed in an interview with the BBC that ‘It is clear that the Israelis are making a decision to act.’ After four days of tense deliberations within the Israeli cabinet since the April 13 direct attack by the Islamic regime of Iran against Israel, which involved more than 300 objects, containing 30 cruise missiles, 120 ballistic missiles and 170 drones, it is evident that Israel has reached the decision to target the bases of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps inside Iran. The question is no longer whether Israel will launch an attack on Iran, but rather when and to what extent the retaliatory strike by Israel might occur. 

The United States and Israel, with the support from allies and friendly nations such as Britain, France, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, could successfully intercept IRGC’s missiles. Then, immediately Biden asked his ‘fellow G7 leaders to coordinate a united diplomatic response.’ The objective was to urge Israel to avoid further escalation of conflict in the Middle East.  

However, these efforts were perceived as weak from Israel’s standpoint. Israel has valid reasons to be concerned about the next phase of Iran’s actions against the Jewish state. The aggressive behavior of the mullahs’ regime over the past 45 years, starting from the storming of the American Embassy in Tehran and the hostage crisis in 1979, to the bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Argentina in 1992, the October 7 attack six months ago, the recent massive missile and drone attack, and numerous other assaults against the United States and Israel, all underscore the fact that this regime cannot be trusted to behave rationally and respectfully within the international community. 

Despite all of that, it was revealed days before last weekend’s attack that the Islamic regime of Iran has a supply of highly enriched uranium, which, according to current and former officials of the International Atomic Energy Agency, ‘could be converted to weapons-grade fuel for at least three bombs within a time frame ranging from a few days to a few weeks.’  

‘This cannot just pass. It cannot go unanswered,’ Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog said in an interview with Bret Baier on Fox News. ‘Because if you don’t answer, the Iranians will feel impunity, and they will feel that you can strike anywhere in the Middle East or elsewhere, without any consequences.’ He followed ‘We have to respond, and we will respond. How exactly we do it remains to be seen. I don’t want to discuss any details.’  

Herzog clearly stated that, ‘In our part of the world, defense is not enough to create deterrence. We need to push back.’ He added ‘If we do not push back against Iran, in a matter of few years, you may see nuclear warheads on ballistic missiles.’ Israel has valid concerns and may feel compelled to preemptively disable IRGC’s missile and nuclear capabilities permanently, echoing their 1981 intervention at Iraq’s Osirak Nuclear reactor.  

White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby addressed questions about Iran and the IRGC’s motives regarding the recent missile attack. Kirby informed reporters, ‘The aim was to get as many [missiles and drones] through Israel’s defenses as possible.’ He refuted theories suggesting that the Iranians intended the operation to fail, labeling such claims as ‘categorically false’ and asserting, ‘Given the scale of this attack, Iran’s intent was clearly to cause significant destruction and casualties.’  

Reflect on the potential threat if Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, known for his enmity with the United States and Israel, had access to nuclear ballistic missiles. He likely would not hesitate to use such weapons, aligning with their longstanding so-called Islamic revolutionary slogan of ‘Israel must be wiped off the map.’  

In 1989, seven days after Ali Khamenei was appointed as Iran’s second supreme leader following Ruhollah Khomeini’s death, Smith Hempstone, soon to be appointed by President George H.W. Bush as Ambassador to Kenya, speculated that ‘Unfortunately if Khamenei remains in power and seeks an opening to the outside world, he is more likely to look to the Soviet Union than to the U.S. He is a graduate of Moscow’s Patrice Lumumba university.’  

Over the past 35 years, Khamenei’s actions have consistently revealed his ties to Russia. Under his command, the IRGC has suppressed numerous uprisings, with the most brutal crackdown occurring in November 2019. This incident saw the IRGC, under General Qassem Soleimani’s leadership, kill at least 1,500 peaceful protesters across 200 cities using military-grade weapons.  

Following Soleimani’s death by a U.S. drone strike ordered by then-President Donald Trump, IRGC General Mohammadreza Zahedi took control as the deputy commander of the Quds Force. Zahedi, known for his long-standing loyalty to Khamenei, was responsible for suppressing protests involving mostly teenagers in 500 cities last year.  

Despite all of that, it was revealed days before last weekend’s attack that the Islamic regime of Iran has a supply of highly enriched uranium, which, according to current and former officials of the International Atomic Energy Agency, ‘could be converted to weapons-grade fuel for at least three bombs within a time frame ranging from a few days to a few weeks.’  

Zahedi himself was killed on April 1st by an Israeli strike in Syria, which subsequently triggered a missile attack by Iran against Israel. He was killed by Israel because its undoubtedly confirmed ‘that he participated in the planning and execution of the October 7 attacks – and at the time of his assassination, Zahedi was planning other terror plots.’  

Given the historical actions attributed to Iran’s supreme leader and the IRGC’s pervasive influence in Iran, Israel has significant reasons for concern. Over the past two decades, the IRGC has gradually taken control of key aspects of Iranian society, including almost every seat in parliament, the cabinet, national TV, the banking system, and the import and export sectors, as well as the police departments and the supreme leader’s headquarters, all under Khamenei’s direct command.  

As a result, IRGC facilities represent a broad array of potential Israeli targets for retaliation following missile attacks. Understandably, many Iranians view potential Israeli strikes on these targets as a beacon of hope for the overthrow of the Mullahs’ regime. While Biden expressed concern in his op-ed in The Wall Street Journal about the potential for being dragged into war, he should be even more worried about the prospect that ‘Israel’s failure to strike back at Iran could lead to NUCLEAR WAR,’ warned the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Republicans in the Senate are accusing the Democratic Party, including President Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., of emboldening Iran prior to the country’s recent attack on U.S. ally Israel.

‘Instead of standing with our ally, Israel, Democrats are focused on appealing to their radical left base, which hates Israel and is actively supporting Hamas and Iran,’ Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital.

‘To appease his base, Joe Biden allowed over $100 billion to flow to Iran. Iran then used that money to make drones and cruise missiles to attack Israel,’ Cruz said. ‘In a very real sense, Joe Biden funded Iran’s attack on Israel. The Democrat position on Israel and Iran is as illogical as it is indefensible.’

Iran attacked Israel directly over the weekend, launching hundreds of drone strikes as well as a barrage of ballistic and cruise missiles. With the help of the U.S. military, Israel managed to intercept almost all the incoming drone and missile attacks. 

Iran’s previous involvement in attacks against Israel has been through proxies in countries such as Syria and Yemen. Launching an assault from within its own country marks a major escalation from a proxy fight to a direct attack.

‘Since October 7, Joe Biden and Chuck Schumer have tried to undermine Israel at every turn,’ Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said in a statement to Fox News Digital. ‘Whether it’s on the battlefield, at the UN, or in Congress, they are more interested in pleasing the pro-Hamas wing of their party than they are in helping our greatest ally in the Middle East.’

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., pointed to the Democratic Party’s shift on Israel, saying in a statement Saturday, ‘Tehran and its proxies are emboldened when they see divisions between the US and Israel.’

Prior to the attack, Biden hardened his posture toward Israel as it fights Hamas in Gaza. Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a call this month ‘that U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps’ to address civilian casualties and ensure safety for humanitarian aid workers, according to the White House. The call followed an Israeli strike that led to the deaths of seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen.

Last month, Schumer sparked outrage from Republicans after calling on Israel in a floor speech to hold elections to replace Netanyahu, who he said ‘has put himself in coalition with far-right extremists’ and ‘has been too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza.’

‘If Prime Minister Netanyahu’s current coalition remains in power after the war begins to wind down and continues to pursue dangerous and inflammatory policies that test existing U.S. standards for assistance, then the United States will have no choice but to play a more active role in shaping Israeli policy by using our leverage to change the present course,’ Schumer said.

Prior to his floor speech, Schumer requested a classified intelligence briefing, which he routinely receives, on the status of hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The briefing revealed that there would be no disruptions to ongoing hostage negotiations if Schumer gave his speech, according to a source familiar.

However, the source was unable to say whether any implications regarding Iran were relayed during the briefing.

Schumer’s office also hit back at the claims, with spokesperson Allison Biasotti saying in a statement, ‘Leader Schumer has been clear that the United States’ commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad, and that the best way to deter enemies of Israel, like Iran, is for the House to promptly pass the bipartisan supplemental bill, with over $17 billion urgently needed for Israel’s defense and U.S. operations against Iranian-backed aggression in the Red Sea, which Schumer already passed in the Senate.’

The majority leader’s office said the attack on Israel was a response to the recent Israeli strike on Iran’s consulate in Damascus, Syria, adding that Iran and Israel have been engaged in a lengthy conflict for years.

But according to one Democrat aide, there are senators in the party who are concerned about a growing number of Democrats’ posture on Israel potentially giving Iran the sense that American support is wavering for its ally.

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., accused Biden of trying to ‘walk a tightrope of appeasing an increasingly radical base of his party while upholding the mainstream American position of support for Israel.’

‘The problem is the president isn’t walking a tightrope. He’s trying to straddle the Grand Canyon,’ he said in a statement.

White House spokesperson Andrew Bates pushed back on criticism of Biden’s posture toward Israel, and he rejected claims he emboldened Iran to attack, in a statement to Fox News Digital.

‘Former Trump Administration officials and Fox News’ own reporting have debunked those lies,’ he said.

‘President Biden is the only American President to have directly defended Israel, as he ordered the American military to do last weekend,’ Bates said. ‘He is also the only American President to have set foot in Israel during wartime, in support of our ironclad commitment to their security. Unlike others, he did not rail against Israel in the days after October 7th, nor has he ever praised Hezbollah.’

Meanwhile, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., pointed to a recent effort to force votes on a stand-alone Israel aid bill in the Senate as she criticized her Democrat counterparts.

‘This week, Senate Democrats again blocked immediate aid to Israel after Senator [Roger] Marshall and I demanded a vote to support our ally. The Left would rather play politics to appease their socialist base,’ she told Fox News Digital in a statement.

‘It’s clear that the Biden administration and Leader Chuck Schumer refuse to back our most important ally in the Middle East,’ Blackburn continued.

Two Democrat congressional aides told Fox News Digital that the attack by Iran was expected. They said intelligence suggested it was in response to the consulate strike on April 1 that killed Iranian commanders.

Nevertheless, the scale of the Iranian attack and its direct targeting of Israel shocked many observers.

Democrats in the upper chamber objected to two requests for unanimous consent to vote on different versions of stand-alone Israel aid. However, most Democrats maintained support for a foreign aid package that ties Israel aid to Ukraine aid.

McConnell said last month that Schumer’s call for new Israeli elections was both hypocritical and grotesque as well as ‘unprecedented.’

‘Make no mistake, the Democratic Party doesn’t have an anti-[Netanyahu] problem. It has an anti-Israel problem,’ the Republican leader said in floor remarks at the time.

A California-based group linked to Democrats is getting involved in a Pennsylvania congressional primary by boosting a Republican against a Republican incumbent in the latest example of liberal funds being directed toward a GOP primary.

True Patriots PA, a liberal group linked to California Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell, sent out mailers to Pennsylvania voters to slam GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and say he is not conservative enough, in essence boosting his primary opponent, Mark Houck, Politico first reported this week.

Fox News Digital obtained some of those mailers that framed Fitzpatrick as a ‘RINO’ (‘Republican in name only’) and implied he wasn’t conservative enough for the base that supports former President Trump.

‘MAGA is ready to bag the biggest RINO in Congress,’ reads one of the mailers along with a photo of Fitzpatrick photoshopped onto a rhinoceros body. ‘We sent Brian Fitzpatrick to D.C. to represent our values, instead, he became best friends with Kamala Harris and the Democrats,’ another mailer said.

FEC records show True Patriots PA spent roughly $26,000 on the mailer.

Meagan Olson is listed as treasurer for both True Patriots PA and the Swalwell campaign.

‘I consider Brian a friend and someone who has bravely defied his party to help secure Ukraine aid,’ Rep. Swalwell told Fox News Digital in a statement. ‘I have never heard of his primary opponent and am not involved or support any effort to defeat Brian in the primary. My office uses a professional compliance firm that serves as treasurer for dozens of campaigns.’

When reached for comment, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) directed Fox News Digital to a Washington Post article in January 2024 in which DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene said her group no longer supports the strategy of propping up ‘far-right’ candidates in swing districts.

‘It should come as no surprise that a group connected to Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat who is so dumb that he was tricked into sleeping with a Chinese spy, would be propping up self-described chronic masturbator Mark Houck in the Republican Primary against Brian Fitzpatrick,’ Defending America PAC’s Chris Pack told Fox News Digital.

‘Even Democrats as intellectually challenged as Eric Swalwell know that their best chance at flipping the one seat needed to take back Democrat control of the House of Representatives is if Mark Houck beats Brian Fitzpatrick in the primary next Tuesday.’ 

Houck, a pro-life activist, has made previous acknowledgments that he ‘had a pornography problem’ as a young man and spoke openly at a church conference about talking to his son about masturbation and erections.

‘I struggled with pornography, and of course that leads to sexual sin, masturbation and stuff. That was a chronic habit,’ Houck said in a 2010 interview, which Defending America PAC included in an ad titled ‘Beat it.’

In a recent statement, Houck said he ‘fell victim to the dehumanizing effects of the pornography industry’ over ‘two decades ago.’ He also defended the conversation about his son, saying the clips circulating online ‘seizes on de-contextualized comments I made with my son present in public pursuit of this transformative ministry’ meant to steer people away from pornography.

The Democrat group boosting Houck is the latest example of a recent trend in which liberal funds have been used to back Republican challengers in an effort to sink candidates who support or are supported by former President Trump.

PACs linked to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have spent millions meddling in GOP primaries this cycle, including in swing state Senate races in Ohio and Montana.

Duty and Country PAC, affiliated with Schumer, ran ads during the Ohio GOP Senate primary that accused Trump-backed businessman Bernie Moreno of being ‘too conservative for Ohio.’ That effort proved unsuccessful in the primary as Moreno won every county in the Buckeye State, beating his nearest challenger by almost 20 points.

In 2022, Democrats spent more than $40 million to boost six pro-Trump candidates in Republican primaries, and all six of those Republicans lost their general election races to Democrats.

Fitzpatrick, who has so far declined to say if he will endorse Trump, voted against impeaching Trump twice and won re-election in 2022 by almost 10 points, despite Biden carrying the 1st Congressional district.

‘After years of brutal losses, the far-left has finally figured out they have no chance of beating Congressman Fitzpatrick, so they’ve now tagged California left-wing extremists to meddle in his primary using the same violent political rhetoric they claim to stand against,’ Fitzpatrick campaign spokesperson Ben Trundy told Fox News Digital in statement.

‘This lame attempt to prop up Mark Houck, an admitted porn addict and serial grifter who believes in complete abortion bans with no exceptions, shows just how desperate they are to force their extreme policies on Bucks and Montgomery County voters.’

Despite the White House voicing it would not take part in any retaliatory attack against Iran by Israel, the Jewish state issued ‘limited’ strikes early Friday.

Fox News has confirmed there have been explosions in Isfahan province where Natanz is located, though it is not clear whether it has been hit.

A well-placed military source has told Fox that the strike was ‘limited.’

The news came after President Joe Biden warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. would not take part in a counter-offensive against Iran.

Biden reportedly told Netanyahu the U.S. wouldn’t support any retaliatory attack, according to Axios.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.

John Kirby, the White House’s top national security spokesperson, told ABC’s ‘This Week’ program on Sunday, April 14 that the United States will continue to help Israel defend itself, but does not want war with Iran.

Kirby said ‘our commitment is ironclad’ to defending Israel and to ‘helping Israel defend itself,’ after being asked if the U.S. would support retaliation. 

Kirby doubled-down on the fact that Biden does not ‘seek’ war with Iran.

‘And as the president has said many times, we don’t seek a wider war in the region. We don’t seek a war with Iran. And I think I will leave it at that,’ Kirby added.

‘We don’t seek escalated tensions in the region. We don’t seek a wider conflict,’ Kirby said.

Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder echoed Kirby’s sentiments, sharing in a press briefing that the U.S. does ‘not want to see a wider regional war.’

‘As I’ve highlighted, we do not seek escalation in the region, but we will not hesitate to defend Israel and protect our personnel,’ he said during the question and answer segment of the briefing.

‘Again, we do not want to see a wider regional war,’ he added. ‘We don’t seek conflict with Iran, but we won’t hesitate to take [the] necessary actions to protect our forces.’

Reports of Israel’s ‘limited strike’ against Iran came following a retaliatory strike over the weekend. 

Iran attacked Israel over the weekend in retaliation for a deadly strike on Iran’s consulate in Syria earlier this month that killed a dozen people, including a top general. Israel has not publicly claimed responsibility for the attack.

The weekend attack by Iran marked a major escalation of violence. Despite decades of hostilities between the two nations, Iran has never directly attacked Israel, instead relying on proxy forces in Iraq, Lebanon and elsewhere. 

Fox News’ Bradford Betz and Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.

– Close to 970 million Indians start voting today as India holds its general election with polls suggesting that incumbent Prime Minister, Narendra Modi will win a third term in the world’s largest democracy.

‘Many Indians view Modi as a ‘strongman figure’. None of the opposition parties can field a candidate with equal charisma. Also, they have no coherent strategy or platform except that they are ‘anti-Modi,” 25-year-old Anandh Nair from Thiruvananthapuram in the state of Kerala recently told Fox News Digital.

Modi first became prime minister in 2014. He was then re-elected for a second term in 2019.  

Nair, a student, said that ‘During Modi’s two terms, we actually saw the standard of living rise, especially for the middle class. Another thing was, previous leaders had been ‘wishy-washy’ about supporting our Hindu identity, almost as if they were ashamed of it. But for the BJP, there was no doubt that they showed pride. For most Indians, religion is an important part of everyday life.’ 

While Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has not yet succeeded in making inroads in some parts of the country, the main opposition Indian National Congress Party has dwindled in terms of the number of states it now holds, despite its previous dominance in Indian politics. Regardless, Modi has campaigned in the southern states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala recently in what many viewed as a daring step, given that the party has not fared well there. 

Gurdas Rao, a tour guide from Mumbai, told Fox News Digital that, ‘Modi is popular among both the rich and poor. All of us have seen the quality-of-life skyrocket, so why won’t we vote for him again?’. 

India’s economic success in the face of the economic crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic was most notable when regional neighbors, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, faced major challenges as they ran out of foreign reserves. In contrast, India stayed relatively unscathed. This culminated when India came to Sri Lanka’s rescue, providing much needed fuel resources during its economic crisis in 2022. Both the IMF and the World Bank also estimated that India was the fastest growing economy in 2023.

A significant event was when the 73-year-old Modi attended the groundbreaking opening of the Ram Mandhir, a new temple in Ayodhya and described this as fulfilling ‘dreams that many generations have cherished for years’. This was at the holy site believed by Hindus to be the birthplace of the legendary King Rama. 

It opened, despite much controversy surrounding the temple being built on top of a razed mosque, leaving the nation divided along religious lines. Many among the Hindu majority showed positive responses, while religious minorities seemed less satisfied. 

Prince Samuels, a Christian from Goa, told Fox News Digital that ‘India is a very diverse country: we have churches, mosques and temples; all on the same street. The BJP is catering to the Hindu majority and not incorporating our religious and culture diversity into their vision of a ‘united India’. They blatantly favor one community over the others.’

Siddhartha Dubey, a professor of journalism based in Evanston, Illinois, said ‘I think the Indian diaspora, which is largely Hindu, is keen to see India growing economically and strengthening ties with their adopted countries. Both of these are currently happening. However, generally speaking, they do not seem too bothered in the whittling down of democracy and institutions within India, and it seems that many are happy to support Mr. Modi.’ 

He cautioned that a third Modi term will see the ‘doubling down against the rights of minorities and civil society’. However, in terms of foreign relations, he said that ‘U.S.-India relations are agnostic of whoever gets elected as U.S. president this year.’ 

Dubey added, ‘India’s economy will grow and if you see the projections from big American companies, India is a key place for investment.’

Former University of Delhi, Indian history professor Preeti Singh told Fox News Digital that, ‘Modi’s support in India transcends the differences in income levels, social categories and caste divisions. His background as a chai walla (tea vendor) has been likened to a common man much like a majority of Indians, and his rise to the top position in India personifies the aspirations of the working classes and all other Indians.’ 

‘His promise and delivery of clean politics, corruption-free government and improved infrastructure have increased his popularity cutting across all classes and categories of society.’

Strong foreign relations have been a cornerstone of Modi’s tenure as prime minister. He has undertaken many foreign visits across the globe. Modi has also notably maintained ties with major world powers that rival one another. Singh explained, ‘Modi is clearly sticking to ‘neutrality’. He wants to make it clear that India is trying to break the shackles by conveying that major players such as the U.S. and Russia have their independent value in terms of Indian foreign policy.’ 

Likewise, Modi has also maintained relationships with Israel and Iran. In contrast, India’s biggest political rivals historically continue to be Pakistan and China. 

Singh also noted how India’s role during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict was ‘rooted in strategic neutrality, while also condemning civilian killings that had taken place.’

Rumela Sen, political science lecturer at Columbia University, expressed concern as to the BJP government’s ‘rewriting Indian history’ to fit a Hindu nationalist narrative as ‘a battle for the soul of India’. She cited ‘textbook revisionism on caste’ and the ‘‘sanitization’ of independence hero Gandhi’s killer'(Nathuram Godse) as examples. 

She said that the BJP’s actions ‘undermine several institutions and rights that were hallmarks of Indian democracy.’ 

‘We almost do not notice the centralization of power in the hands of the executive, midnight arrests and legal harassment of opposition and critics and erosion of free press.’ 

When asked about concerns of eroding democracy and a crackdown on the opposition in India, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told journalists on Monday that, ‘India is the world’s largest democracy, it is an important strategic partner of the United States, and I expect that to remain true.’

Despite criticism, Narendra Modi has so far proven that his support-base is solidly rooted in both the domestic and foreign fronts. Also, coupled with a weak opposition and poll results, all indicators suggest that Modi will most probably be re-elected for a third term.  

Results of the 44-day-long process will be known on June 4.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Lawmakers reacted after Israel reportedly struck a site in Iran early Friday in retaliation for Tehran firing a barrage of missiles and drones at Israel last weekend.

A handful of American politicians defended Israel’s ‘right to defend itself,’ calling for the U.S. to ‘stand with Israel.’

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital that Israel had a ‘right and obligation to respond’ and blamed the recent attacks on President Biden’s handling of foreign policy in the region.

‘The scope of Israel’s action tonight shows just how far Iran’s reach has extended across the region. Iran’s advances should worry every American, because when Iran’s leaders chant ‘Death to Israel’ they also chant ‘Death to America,” Cruz said. ‘Iran launched a massive attack and act of war against Israel. That attack was enabled because Joe Biden and Biden officials dismantled pressure on the Ayatollah.’

‘Thankfully, after decades of cooperation with the United States, and thanks to President Trump’s diplomacy in the Middle East, we and our Israeli and Arab allies repelled that attack,’ he said. ‘However, it was still an act of war, and Israel had the right and obligation to respond. 

‘Congress should ensure the United States stands unequivocally with our Israeli allies as they do so and reestablish deterrence,’ Cruz said.

Following Iran’s attack on Israel last weekend, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., asked how America would respond if it were attacked.

‘If another country targeted America with the single biggest drone attack in history, how would we respond?’ he asked.

After reports of the Friday attack surfaced, Rubio posted on X: ‘Israel has the ability to conduct strikes against targets inside Iran without entering Iranian airspace from aircraft over Syrian and Iraqi airspace.’

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz defended Israel’s reported attack, saying it has the ‘right to defend itself against Iran’s full network of evil,’ while placing blame on the Biden administration.

‘Iran and its proxies have mounted attacks against Israel for years, and under the Biden administration’s foreign policy, things have only escalated. Israel has a right to defend itself against Iran’s full network of evil,’ Gaetz wrote on X.

‘Wisdom must be displayed,’ he said. ‘A broadening regional war is in the best interest of no Middle Eastern country – or the United States.’

‘The United States stands with Israel,’ Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla, added on X shortly after reports of Israel’s retaliatory attack on Iran.

Fox News Digital confirmed that there have been explosions in the Isfahan province where Natanz – the site of one of Iran’s nuclear facilities – is located, though it is not clear whether it has been hit.

A well-placed military source has told Fox that the strike was ‘limited.’ 

Fox News’ Bradford Betz and Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., on Thursday slammed his Democratic colleagues for their refusal to condemn Iran for its attack on Israel in retaliation for the deadly bombing of its Syrian consulate earlier this month. 

‘I sincerely thought I’d never witness members of my party refuse to condemn Iran – one of the world’s leading terrorism sponsors – after launching hundreds of drones against our special ally, Israel,’ Fetterman wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. ‘No words.’ 

More than a dozen House Democrats on Thursday voted against a resolution condemning Iran for firing a barrage of rockets at Israel over the weekend. U.S. officials said 99% of those were intercepted.

The move, in retaliation for Israel’s attack on its consulate in Damascus, signified a major escalation of tensions amid Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas. Despite decades of hostilities, Iran has never directly attacked Israel, instead relying on proxy forces in Iraq, Lebanon, and elsewhere. 

Thursday’s resolution condemning Iran overwhelmingly passed 404 to 14. Thirteen Democrats voted against the resolution including ‘Squad’ member Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.; Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.; Cori Bush, D-Mo.; Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.; Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y.; and Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass. 

Just one House Republican, Rep. Thomas Massive, R-Ky., voted against the bill.

Israel’s war on Hamas began after militants from the pro-Palestinian terror group invaded southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 and killed more than 1,000 people. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians, has said over 30,000 Palestinians have died in the months since.

Since Oct. 7, Fetterman has repeatedly irked his Democratic colleagues with his fervent support for Israel. 

Earlier this week, Fetterman said he would never ‘capitulate to the fringe’ of his party. On Tuesday, he ripped anti-Israel agitators who blocked bridges or major roadways. 

‘I don’t know who needs to hear this, but blocking a bridge or berating folks in Starbucks isn’t righteous, it just makes you an a—hole,’ Fetterman wrote on X. ‘Demand Hamas to send every hostage back home and surrender.’ 

Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.

Tensions flared in the House of Representatives on Thursday when a group of conservatives confronted Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., over his foreign aid plan, leading to another Republican trading barbs with the group of rebels.

A group of lawmakers that included Reps. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., and others could be seen huddled with Johnson on the House floor after morning votes. 

The discussion appeared to be interrupted a short while later when Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., confronted the group, and wound up in a particularly heated back-and-forth with Gaetz. Van Orden later told Fox News Digital that he called Gaetz ‘tubby’ and dared the GOP rebels to trigger a vote for Johnson’s ouster – a threat he’s facing from Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who were not in the group.

Gaetz later told reporters that the conversation with Johnson was ‘tense’ and that they were expressing opposition to his $95 billion proposal of separate bills for aid to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific. 

It comes as Johnson faces blowback from members on the right of his conference over the plan, which is roughly the same cost as the Senate’s combined Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan funding package passed earlier this year. 

‘We don’t want to pass his bill. The only win we’ve got in the House of Representatives is blocking the Senate supplemental. If we’re going to throw in the towel on that, what are we doing here?’ Gaetz asked.

A key difference in Johnson’s plan is having House members vote on each of the bills separately before sending them in a combined package to the Senate – in order to give lawmakers the opportunity to take a stand on each issue and separating the politically fraught matter of Ukraine.

But conservatives balked at the lack of U.S. border security provisions tied to the Ukraine bill. Indeed, a GOP lawmaker familiar with the confrontation on the House floor told Fox News Digital that they were pushing Johnson to consider options that include border policy rather than going forward with his planned Saturday foreign aid vote.

‘I thought we were making some real headway, and then had a member walk up and just start name-calling and just getting in people’s faces,’ the GOP lawmaker said.

They were almost certainly referring to Van Orden, who later told Fox News Digital that he joined the fray because he noticed the speaker needed ‘a swim buddy,’ a term for a teammate that Van Orden borrowed from his days in the Navy SEALs.

‘Gaetz was speaking to the speaker in a matter that I just, I did not think it was appropriate,’ Van Orden said. 

‘They start calling me stupid – incredibly juvenile things. And so I said something along the lines of, ‘Kick rocks, tubby,’ to Matt … And the reason I did that is because Matt Gaetz is a bully. He just got up in my face, and I’m not gonna be intimidated by that guy.’

Van Orden is one of the many rank-and-file Republicans who have accused House Freedom Caucus members and their allies of hurting the conference with hardball tactics against their fellow GOP lawmakers.

He said he dared them to make good on threats to call a motion to vacate, a procedural maneuver that would trigger a vote on ousting the speaker.

When asked about his confrontation with Van Orden later, Gaetz called it ‘very puzzling and concerning.’

‘The only thing I gleaned from it is that Mr. Van Orden is not a particularly intelligent individual,’ Gaetz said.

He added that his confidence in Johnson was ‘diminishing’ over his actions on foreign aid.

Currently, a vote on those bills is expected Saturday evening. Another border security bill that Johnson put forward to ease GOP concerns was blown up on Thursday night before it could get to the House floor by conservatives who accused Johnson of putting it up as a messaging bill with no real momentum.