The U.S. Senate advanced a $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan on Thursday, prompting criticism from South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham. The measure, which passed with bipartisan support, aims to bolster military and humanitarian efforts in the region. However, Graham’s comments on the ongoing military operation against Iran’s Kharg Island drew sharp backlash from fellow lawmakers and military families. Graham, a Republican, argued that the U.S. should continue the operation to weaken Iran’s regime, comparing the effort to the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima. “Take Kharg Island, where all of the resources they have to produce oil are,” he told Fox News, urging President Trump to “let this regime die on a vine.” He emphasized the importance of controlling the island, which serves as a key oil hub for Iran, and praised the Marines’ role in the operation. “We did Iwo Jima, we can do this,” he said, despite acknowledging the high cost of the mission. At least 13 U.S. service members have died since the Trump administration launched the operation, raising concerns about the risks involved. Graham defended the strategy, stating, “God bless the fallen,” but faced criticism for downplaying the human toll. Senator Elizabeth Mace, a Democrat, condemned Graham’s remarks, calling them “unacceptable” and accusing him of treating troops as expendable. “He was wrong about Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Iran,” she wrote on social media, referencing past military missteps. The debate over the operation intensified after Mace voted against a war powers resolution that would have required Trump to halt military actions in Iran. The resolution failed, allowing the administration to continue its efforts.#iran #kharg_island #lindsey_graham #u_s_senate #marines
