U.S. Senator J.D. Vance states that Israel has the freedom to choose its response against Iran, amid rising tensions between the two nations. Discover more about his position and the potential implications.

During a televised debate on CBS News on Tuesday, Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick, J.D. Vance, stated that the US should back Israel in its retaliation against Iran, even if that entails a preemptive strike.

Ohio Republican Senator Vance debated his Democratic challenger, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The event took place just hours after Iran launched approximately 200 missiles at Israel. According to the IDF, most of these projectiles were intercepted mid-air. The sole reported casualty was a Palestinian man in the West Bank who lost his life due to falling missile debris.

When a moderator inquired whether he would support an Israeli preemptive strike on Iran, Vance reiterated Washington’s long-standing commitment to backing the Jewish state.

“Look, it’s Israel’s responsibility to determine what actions are necessary for their country’s safety, and we should back our allies wherever they may be when they’re up against adversaries. That’s the appropriate stance on the issue of Israel,” Vance responded.

He continued by contending that during Trump’s presidency, America’s adversaries were kept in check. “Trump actually brought stability to the world through effective deterrence,” Vance remarked. “People were afraid of stepping out of line.”

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Walz sidestepped a direct response regarding his support for Israel’s preemptive strike. Nonetheless, he emphasized that “Israel’s ability to defend itself is absolutely fundamental.”

The Democrat accused Trump of harming the United States’ global standing and condemned him for withdrawing from the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement.

“Iran is closer to a nuclear weapon than ever before due to Donald Trump’s inconsistent leadership,” Walz stated.

Iran has asserted that the missile attacks were in retaliation for what they describe as “genocide” perpetrated by the IDF in Gaza and Lebanon.

On Tuesday, the IDF initiated a cross-border ground operation targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon. Prior to this, Israeli jets conducted airstrikes in Lebanon that resulted in the deaths of several senior Hezbollah members, including Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the armed group.

The IDF stated that the operation aims to prevent Hezbollah from launching rockets and mortars at cities in northern Israel.