Lawmakers on Tuesday confronted Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Elbridge Colby, over ongoing US military operations in Iran during a Senate hearing focused on national defense strategy.
During the session before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Chairman Jack Reed argued that the military campaign in the Middle East contradicts the Pentagon’s strategy document issued just over a month ago.
He described the current operations as “completely contrary” to that plan.
Colby rejected the criticism. “I completely reject that characterization. Sir, if you’d look in the strategy, it details specifically not only the threat posed by Iran and ensuring that the president has the options to act against Iran. It also explicitly and repeatedly details that the strategy will provide the ability…to do exactly this kind of operation,” he said.
He added that Israel and Gulf partners “are really leaning in” to assist with operations targeting Iran.
Since Saturday, coordinated strikes by Israel and the United States have targeted Iran, resulting in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with senior security officials.
In retaliation, Tehran launched drone and missile attacks aimed at Israeli territory and US military installations across the region, leading several Gulf nations to shut down their airspace.
Reed criticized President Donald Trump, accusing him of having “moved the goal posts constantly,” and pressed Colby to clarify the mission’s objectives.
“Once again, the objectives of the military campaign, which have been directed by the president…are focused on addressing the ability of the Islamic Republic to project military power against of course us, our bases, our forces, etcetera, as well as our allies and partners in the region and beyond, and that’s primarily the missile forces of the Islamic Republic,” Colby said.
“I do think those are scoped and reasonable objectives that can be attained.”
Reed questioned the decision to target Iran’s top leadership at the outset of the campaign.
“Why was the first objective in the campaign the attack and death of Khamenei and key leaders of the regime?” he asked.
Colby replied that Trump “sets our agenda and he directed these military goals.”
The testimony followed remarks by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stated that Washington had prior knowledge of planned Israeli military action against Iran.
“We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn’t preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties,” Rubio told reporters on Capitol Hill.
Speaking separately at the White House, Trump dismissed suggestions that Israel had drawn the United States into the conflict.
“No, I might have forced their hands. You see, we were having negotiations with these lunatics, and it was my opinion that they were going to attack first,” he said.
Sen. Angus King described Rubio’s comments as “breathtaking,” raising concerns about US decision-making authority in matters of war.
“Have we now delegated the most solemn decision that can be made in our society, the decision to go to war, to another country? That’s the implication, the breathtaking implication of Secretary Rubio’s statement,” King said.
He further asserted that Rubio “inadvertently told the truth” by suggesting the conflict was driven by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“I agree with you that Secretary Rubio told the truth. I wouldn’t characterize his remarks,” Colby replied.
“I find it very disturbing that we’re committing this nation to war based upon a decision by…a staunch ally, and I’m a supporter of Israel. But I don’t think anybody should drive our decision to go to war,” King added.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren questioned how the administration’s “America First” platform aligns with US military involvement alongside Israel. She also pressed Colby on whether the joint campaign amounts to interventionism.
“I don’t think this is. No,” Colby responded, adding that interventionism is “a more, I would say, you know, kind of responsibility to protect or something.”
“Really? And we didn’t do this in order to try to protect Israel?” Warren asked.
Colby acknowledged that it was “one of the goals.”
“So it is interventionism,” Warren said.
“The Trump administration first says it’s going to be America First, then puts out a national defense strategy and then goes to war alongside Israel illegally, unconstitutionally,” she said.
“And that is now the policy of the Trump administration: say one thing in a campaign, write it down on paper, and then go do whatever the hell you want.”
Sen. Tim Kaine also labeled US actions in Venezuela and Iran as “interventionism.”
“Is arresting (Venezuelan President Nicolas) Maduro and killing the Ayatollah, is that regime change?” he asked.
Colby declined to give a definitive answer. “I don’t know. I think it’s an interesting debate,” he said.
Kaine responded sharply: “You are uncomfortable having your own words read to you, and you’re uncomfortable saying that the assassination of a leader and the arrest of a leader, you won’t acknowledge that’s regime change. I think that’s very instructive to those listening.”
