Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said he spoke with Israel’s Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana about the growing conflict in Israel.
“This is different,” McCarthy said in a Saturday interview with Fox News. “They are telling me that this is their Pearl Harbor.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war against Palestinian militants Saturday after the surprise, multi-front attack that left at least 250 dead.
McCarthy said the incoming missiles have overwhelmed Israel’s praised defense system, the Iron Dome. The Iron Dome is a missile defense system that can intercept short-range rockets in the air but it has to be reloaded to continuously intercept the incoming missiles.
“You’ve got to understand, 5,000 missiles … are overwhelming the Iron Dome. The Iron Dome cannot take so many,” McCarthy said.
“And then to enter Israel, this has not happened where a foreign has actually controlled land inside Israel since 1948,” the California Republican added. “There are still a number of villages, I believe the latest was seven, where you’re having street combat trying to win that land back.”
Many other lawmakers and members of Congress have condemned the invasion and attack, including President Biden, who vowed U.S. solidarity with Israel.
“My administration’s support for Israel’s security is rock solid and unwavering,” he said.