In a recent interview on "Fox News Sunday," Senator Lindsey Graham expressed his dissatisfaction with the manner in which retaliatory strikes in the Middle East have been carried out, arguing that they have failed to establish an effective deterrent against Iran. The South Carolina Republican specifically highlighted concerns regarding the timing of the attacks, stating that the targets had received significant advance warning.

Graham criticized the notion of hitting numerous targets, asserting that it does not matter if the only Iranian casualties are individuals who were unaware and unable to evade the strikes. He emphasized that giving advance notice undermines the goal of deterring Iran, asserting that the current approach is "failing miserably."

According to initial reports on the ground, Reuters indicated that dozens of Iranian-backed proxy members were killed during the mentioned retaliatory strikes. The Biden administration has conducted two sets of retaliatory strikes thus far in response to a drone attack that claimed the lives of three US soldiers and left several others injured at the Tower 22 military base in Jordan last month. The administration attributed the deadly drone attack to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group backed by Iran.

On Friday, the US military targeted over 85 locations in Syria and Iraq, followed by another round of strikes on 36 Houthi targets in Yemen the next day. These actions were prompted by a series of escalating attacks in the region, with the Pentagon reporting approximately 158 attacks on US and allied forces between the surprise attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, and the drone strike in Jordan.

Senator Lindsey Graham, known for his hawkish views on foreign policy, expressed his disappointment with the retaliatory strikes, stating that they are insufficient for ensuring national security. Drawing attention to previous incidents such as the situation in Afghanistan in 2021 and attacks in Europe in 2022 and 2023, Graham emphasized the need for a change in policy to instill fear in adversaries.

Graham called for future strikes to inflict significant damage on Iran's economy or eliminate key leadership figures, stating that without such consequences, nothing will change. He also briefly commented on the ongoing border issue in Congress, expressing hope that House Speaker Mike Johnson will consider the substance of the bipartisan border deal put forth by a group of Senators, led by Senator Lankford, to address a long-standing problem.

The White House responded to Republican opposition, criticizing House Republicans for playing a political game that does not secure the border, help Ukraine, or provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians. The administration strongly opposes their proposal, emphasizing the need for bipartisan collaboration.

As tensions and criticism continue to intensify, the Biden administration will face growing pressure to fine-tune its strategy for retaliatory strikes while seeking consensus on pressing issues both domestically and abroad.