GOP Rep. Gaetz Hits GOP Sen. Graham Over Backing Biden Strikes in Yemen
GOP Rep. Gaetz Hits GOP Sen. Graham Over Backing Biden Strikes in Yemen
The strike against Houthi rebels came in response to missiles and bombs being fired at ships, including American vessels, passing through the Red Sea
Published |Updated
Alec Dent
Gaetz has been a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump. Saul Loeb-Pool/Getty Images
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., on Thursday criticized fellow Republican lawmaker Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., for supporting President Joe Biden’s strike against Houthi rebels who have been attacking vessels in international shipping lanes Thursday.
“Breaking News: Lindsey Graham supports another war in the Middle East,” Gaetz posted on social media in response to Graham expressing his support.
View post on Twitter
Houthi rebels have been firing missiles and bomb-carrying drones at ships, including American ships, passing through the Red Sea. Their attacks have forced shipping vessels to either risk attack or re-route around the southern tip of Africa, adding substantial time and cost to their journeys.
The United States and United Kingdom carried out retaliatory strikes Thursday against the rebels in Yemen, with Biden saying in a statement that Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands supported the attacks.
“[A] coalition of countries committed to upholding the rules-based international order demonstrated our shared commitment to defending U.S. and international vessels and commercial vessels exercising navigational rights and freedoms from illegal and unjustifiable attacks,” said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a statement.
The administration has also faced criticism from Democrats over the strikes occurring without congressional authorization.