President Donald Trump (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)
Pro-Israel Republican senator criticizes Israel for bombing Iranian oil facilities amid reports the Trump administration privately rebuked Jerusalem over the strikes.
By World Israel News Staff
The Trump administration privately criticized Israel for bombing Iranian oil depots over the weekend, Axios reported on Sunday, marking the first indication of disagreement between the two allies regarding their joint air campaigns against the Islamic Republic.
On Saturday, Israeli warplanes bombed 30 oil facilities in Iran in a step the IDF said was aimed at weakening both the regime and the Iranian military.
The oil depots, the Israeli military said, “are used by the Iranian regime to supply fuel to different consumers, including its military organs.”
An Israeli official cited by the report said the strikes were meant to pressure Iran to halt ballistic missile attacks on Israeli civilians.
However, the Trump administration is reportedly concerned the attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure could backfire, driving up gas prices and encouraging Iranians to rally around the regime.
“We don’t think it was a good idea,” one senior US official said.
According to an Israeli official cited in the report, the US message to Israel after the strikes was “WTF.”
“The president doesn’t like the attack. He wants to save the oil. He doesn’t want to burn it. And it reminds people of higher gas prices,” an adviser to President Donald Trump said.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), an ally of Trump and a vocal supporter of Israel, openly criticized Israel for the strikes.
“Our allies in Israel have shown amazing capability when it comes to collapsing the murderous regime in Iran. America is most appreciative,” Graham wrote on his X account. “However, there will be a day soon that the Iranian people will be in charge of their own fate, not the murderous ayatollahs’ regime.
“In that regard, please be cautious about what targets you select. Our goal is to liberate the Iranian people in a fashion that does not cripple their chance to start a new and better life when this regime collapses. The oil economy of Iran will be essential to that endeavor.”
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