Other Middle Eastern terrorist groups such as the Taliban and Hezbollah may join current Palestinian attacks on Israel, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul warned on Sunday.
When asked whether the war between the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas and Israel that broke out on Saturday could turn into “all-out war,” McCaul (R-Texas) said he was concerned.
“I have seen signs that the Taliban want to come to liberate Jerusalem, in their words, to fight the Zionists. That’s very troubling,” McCaul told CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Host Dana Bash name-dropped both the Taliban and Lebanese Hezbollah terror groups in his question.
Although the area controlled by the Taliban, an Islamic fundamentalist group, is plagued by severe poverty and is geographically separated by countries east of Israel such as Syria, Iraq and Iran, McCaul did not rule out the possibility that it was involved.
McCaul’s panel has been fully focused on investigating the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021.
Also of concern is Hezbollah, which has fired more than 100,000 rockets worth of firearms into northern Israel in Lebanon, he said.
Michael McCaul voiced his frustration with the House GOP infighting that has crippled the lower chamber. Getty Images for the Recording Academy
“As it stands now, Israel’s military capabilities far surpass those of Hamas. And they can deal with this problem. But it will take time to go from house to house” to defeat the enemy and secure Israeli territory, McCaul said.
“But if this ignites into a bigger jihadist war against the Zionists, if you will – that’s what always keeps me up at night.”
There are already clashes between the Israeli army and Hezbollah, reinforcing fears of a two-front war. Hezbollah is aligned with Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip near Israel’s west coast.
Hezbollah supporters hold Palestinian flags during a solidarity rally with Palestinians in Gaza, on the southern outskirts of Beirut in Dahiyeh, Lebanon, Sunday, Oct. 8. 2023. AP
Hamas’s surprise attack on Saturday, which came a day after the 50th anniversary of the start of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, caught Israeli intelligence and defense by surprise.
The Israeli cabinet invoked Article 40 Aleph, marking the first officially declared war since 1973, in response.
McCaul has been a staunch supporter of Israel and blames Iran for historic violence in the Jewish state.
Currently, the House of Representatives is overseen by Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-NC) due to the sensational removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) last week.
“It’s not ideal. It was not my idea to overthrow the speaker,” McCaul admitted.
Fighters from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah conduct training in the village of Aaramta in Jezzine District, southern Lebanon, Sunday, May 21, 2023.AP
“I think it’s dangerous,” he said. “I look at the world and all the threats that are out there, and what kind of message are we sending to our enemies?”
McCaul noted that there is $3.3 billion in foreign military funding available to the Biden administration as it responds to the escalating crisis affecting half the world.
The Texas congressman emphasized the need to appoint a full speaker next week to get legislation on the House floor condemning attacks on Israel and potentially appropriate funding to augment its Iron Dome defense system.
House Republicans plan to hold a candidate forum Tuesday, followed by a speaker vote on Wednesday.
The top two contenders for the top slot are Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Oh.) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) McCaul declined to endorse either of them.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
