Nebraska federal delegation supporting ‘Operation Epic Fury,’ Trump’s war with Iran

Nebraska’s all-Republican federal delegation is standing in support of President Donald Trump’s weekend attacks, and subsequent war, on Iran. Dozens of deaths have been reported since the first strikes on Saturday, including U.S. service members’ deaths and a group of young female students at a girls school.

The U.S. and Israel both struck Tehran after a string of threats from the president over Iran’s nuclear capabilities. The strikes killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state media also reported Khamenei’s daughter and grandchild died in the attack.

Since the joint attack on Tehran, Iran’s military has responded with counter-attacks in Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, according to NPR. The U.S. Central Command said Sunday morning that three U.S. service members were killed in action and five were seriously wounded.

“Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions – and are in the process of being returned to duty. Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing,” the statement read.

The service members who died were not immediately identified.

President Trump celebrated the initial U.S. attacks in social media posts throughout the weekend, saying, “The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted through the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!”

It’s unclear if any military members in Nebraska have been called up. But in a statement posted to social media Saturday morning, Gov. Jim Pillen called for Nebraskans to “lift up in prayer the soldiers and airmen of the Nebraska National Guard.”

“Lift up in prayer every warrior of the Armed Force of the United States. Pray that God will protect them as they carry out this mission against one of the most notorious and evil terrorist regimes in human history.”

Nebraska’s GOP members of Congress all said they were praying for U.S. troops and supporting the president’s war on Iran. All five politicians issued statements Saturday following the attacks.

Nebraska U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer wrote, “I am praying for our brave service members as they carry out this mission to ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon. God bless America and the innocent civilians in Iran, who deserve far better than the regime that has long oppressed them.”

U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts credited the president for not being “fooled by the Iranians at the negotiating table” like past presidents.

“Since its inception, the Iranian regime has been focused on destroying the United States and our allies. That’s why President Trump has been clear that Iran can never have a pathway to a nuclear weapon,” Ricketts said.

Second District Congressman Don Bacon told NBC News over the weekend that he supports the military operations and said the “world cannot coexist with Ayatollah and his regime.”

“It’s high-risk but it’s overdue. We’ve lost around, probably, 2,000 Americans to IRGC terrorism strikes since 1979. This bill is due, and it’s time that we pay it on this regime,” Bacon said.

Nebraska’s 1st District and 3rd District House members echoed similar sentiments, saying diplomacy hasn’t worked and that sustainable peace can only be achieved through “strength.”

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the strikes by Israel and the U.S., as well as Iran’s responding attacks.

"We are witnessing a grave threat to international peace and security. Military action carries the risk of igniting a chain of events that no one can control in the most volatile region of the world," Guterres said during an emergency meeting. "Let me be clear: There is no viable alternative to the peaceful settlement of international disputes. Lasting peace can only be achieved through peaceful means, including genuine dialogue and negotiations."