Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani was a "top terrorist" and President Donald Trump's decision to order an airstrike to take him out without consulting Congress beforehand was appropriate, Sen. Thom Tillis said Friday.
"This is somebody who has done Iran's bidding across the world," the North Carolina Republican told Fox News' "America's Newsroom."
"He is responsible for [taking] hundreds of lives and the lives of others fighting for freedom in the region. I appreciate the president's resolve."
Tillis also defended the decision to take action against Soleimani without consulting Congress first, as he believes Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the administration's advisors have the right information.
"They have the right information," said Tillis. "They have the right location, the right target. I have no doubt they've examined the presidential authorities and they acted appropriately."
Further, Tillis said that the action that was taken was "highly sensitive" and had to be "closely held," when asked about whether Congress should have been consulted.
"This is a highly sensitive action that had to be closely held, in the same way that previous attacks on terrorist leaders have been executed," said Tillis.
Iran, he added, is the "top state sponsor of terror in the world," and the fact that Soleimani was able to remain in power for years is a "testament that he needed to be taken out."
"Hundreds of millions of dollars is going to terrorist organizations across the globe, including our hemisphere," said Tillis of Iran. "He was at the front of it."
Tillis also said it's believed Soleimani was "at the front" of the attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad earlier this week.
"Keep in mind that this strike was only about 15 miles away from the American embassy in Baghdad," said Tillis. "How could anyone think that Soleimani was going over there to make peace? He was going there to orchestrate the next wave of violence in Iraq, putting American men and women at risk."
Meanwhile, the United States has been "very patient" with Iran's acts of aggression, but the government there needs to understand that at some point enough will be enough, the senator said.
"We have seen a number of attacks, and America has had a very measured response," said Tillis, "but when you send your top terrorist from your country, basically the deputy foreign minister, into Iraq and think that's going to stand? I think the president proved it's not going to come and he made the right decision."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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