11 months ago
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(NewsNation) — In the first debate betwixt the vice statesmanlike candidates, Sen. JD Vance and Gov. Tim Walz contrasted however erstwhile President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris would pb the state done overseas policy, peculiarly successful the Middle East.
Iran launched astatine slightest 180 missiles into Israel connected Tuesday, the latest successful a bid of escalating attacks successful a yearslong struggle betwixt Israel and Iran and its Arab allies that threatens to propulsion the Middle East person toward a region-wide war.
When asked astir supporting a preemptive onslaught by Israel connected Iran, Walz stressed the value of dependable enactment successful handling the situation successful the Middle East.
He criticized Trump's attack to overseas policy, citing concerns raised by Trump's erstwhile unit members astir his fittingness for office.
Walz praised Harris for her "steady leadership" and "calmness" successful gathering and maintaining planetary coalitions.
Vance, connected the different hand, defended Trump's overseas argumentation record. He argued that Trump "delivered stableness successful the world" done "effective deterrence."
Vance criticized the Biden-Harris administration's policies towards Iran, claiming that unfrozen assets provided to Iran person been utilized to money weapons perchance threatening the US and its allies.
Regarding a preemptive strike, Vance said, “It is up to Israel … we should enactment allies wherever they are.”
The candidates besides clashed implicit the Iran atomic deal.
Walz accused Trump of making Iran "closer to a atomic weapon" by withdrawing from the statement without an alternate plan.
Vance countered by pointing retired that Iran is presently person to processing a atomic limb than ever before, contempt the existent administration's policies.
Walz highlighted coalition-building and diplomatic steadiness, portion Vance stressed the value of projecting spot and deterrence connected the satellite stage.
What to cognize astir the Israel-Iran attacks and Biden's response
The Biden medication is intimately monitoring missile attacks launched by Iran into Israel, but portion the White House says it afloat supports Israel’s close to defense, it whitethorn not beryllium connected the aforesaid leafage erstwhile it comes to violative usage of force.
Both President Joe Biden and Harris have been successful the concern country watching the onslaught and said the subject has been ordered to assistance successful shooting down missiles.
Biden said that the onslaught “appears to person been defeated and ineffective” and that the U.S. is “fully afloat fully supportive of Israel.”
Before Iran’s attack, Israel had landed a bid of devastating blows successful caller weeks against the enactment of Hezbollah successful Lebanon. It past ratcheted up the unit connected the Iran-backed militant radical — which has been firing rockets into Israel since the warfare successful Gaza began — by launching what it said is simply a constricted crushed incursion successful confederate Lebanon.
Israel has said it volition proceed to onslaught Hezbollah until it is harmless for citizens displaced from homes adjacent the Lebanon borderline to return. Hezbollah has vowed to support firing rockets into Israel until determination is simply a cease-fire successful Gaza with Hamas, which is besides supported by Iran.
Republican leaders connected Capitol Hill are calling connected Biden to get tougher connected Iran successful the aftermath of Tuesday’s attack, urging the medication to follow a bid of circumstantial measures designed to cripple the subject powers of Tehran and its proxies.
The Biden medication has fixed Israel weapons, billions of dollars and 2,000-pound bombs used to instrumentality retired immoderate of Hezbollah’s leaders, but the Trump-Vance summons has consistently criticized Kamala Harris’ handling of the situation, claiming she “hates Israel.”
Israel and Iran person fought a shadiness warfare for years, but seldom person they travel into nonstop conflict.
NewsNation's Safia Samee Ali, The Hill and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
