Fox News Digital has challenged Rep. Ilhan Omar’s assertion that ‘no one is attacking Americans,’ highlighting Iran’s long-standing history of attacks on U.S. personnel. The report underscores Iran’s support for militant groups such as the Taliban and al Qaeda, as well as its involvement in numerous assassinations and direct attacks on U.S. installations. According to a 2019 Pentagon report, Iran was responsible for the deaths of 603 U.S. service members in Iraq between 2003 and 2011, accounting for 17% of all U.S. fatalities in the region. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice has pursued charges against individuals linked to Iran, including those involved in a murder-for-hire plot targeting American citizens, including former President Donald Trump.
Iran’s involvement in the 1983 bombings of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut and the multinational barracks in Lebanon, which killed hundreds of Americans, further illustrates its pattern of violence. In 2020, Iran retaliated against the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani by attacking U.S. bases in Iraq with missiles. In 2022, U.S. courts ruled that Iran was responsible for the deaths and injuries of 40 Americans in Iraq due to its support for terror groups. The report also detailed recent attacks, such as the drone strike on a Jordanian outpost in January 2024, which killed three Americans and injured 25 others. Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, emphasized that Iran’s support for groups like the Taliban and al Qaeda has contributed to nearly every major attack on U.S. personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Lawmakers are currently debating the role of the United States in the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. While some, like President Trump, have vowed to respond with military might, others, including Rep. Omar, have called for a policy of non-intervention. The situation remains fluid, with U.S. military bases and personnel in the Middle East facing increasing threats from Iranian-backed militants. Despite Iran’s history of attacks, Omar’s statement has drawn criticism for downplaying the threat, with opponents arguing that the U.S. must remain vigilant against continued aggression from Iran and its proxies.