Former adviser to United States President Donald Trump and political commentator Steve Cortes has criticized the Saudi Crown Prince’s role in the ongoing Middle East conflict.
His comments follow reports that Mohammed bin Salman has been urging Trump to continue with the Iranian attack.
“If the Saudi Prince loves the war so much, let him take it over and commit Saudi money and Saudi sons to do the fighting,” said Steve Cortes.
Cortes’s comment shows the frustration among policymakers who feel that U.S. forces and resources are being overused in the US operation on Iran, especially when Gulf allies have historically been reluctant to commit their own military forces.
Saudi Crown Prince’s Reported Push for Continued Action
According to The New York Times, Mohammed bin Salman, in recent discussions with Trump, has encouraged him to maintain pressure on Iran, arguing that the ongoing US-Israel military campaign presents a “historic opportunity” to remake the Middle East.
Also Read: Mass Deportation Plan Looms as Senate Confirms Trump Pick for DHS
The New York Times first detailed these private communications, noting that Salman views the U.S.-Israel military campaign as a way to weaken Iran’s regional influence and potentially curb Tehran’s support to proxy groups across the Middle East.
According to Salman, Iran poses a long-term threat to Gulf nations, and this threat can only be addressed by removing its current government. This push reportedly comes despite public Saudi statements emphasizing restraint and the need for a peaceful resolution in ending the war against Tehran.
Military Ship Deployed Out of Iran After Laundry Room Fire
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the U.S. Navy’s newest and largest aircraft carrier, is heading out of the Red Sea for repairs following a significant fire in its main laundry area, U.S. officials confirmed.
The incident, which occurred while the ship supported military operations against Iran, has forced the $13 billion warship to pull back temporarily from frontline duties.
Also Read: Worried Netanyahu Asks for Help as Iran Overwhelms US and Israel
The fire started in the laundry facilities and took sailors more than 30 hours to extinguish, according to reports from The New York Times, citing sailors and military officials.
The carrier, home to more than 5,000 sailors and over 75 aircraft, including F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters, has played a key role in U.S. strikes since operations against Iran began on February 28.
U.S. forces have conducted strikes on more than 7,000 targets in the conflict, now in its third week. The Ford, accompanied by escort ships such as the guided missile cruiser Normandy and destroyers including Thomas Hudner, Ramage, Carney, and Roosevelt, has provided air support and other capabilities from the Red Sea.
The ship has been at sea for nearly 10 months, one of the longest deployments for a U.S. aircraft carrier in recent decades. It initially deployed to the Caribbean amid tensions with Venezuela before shifting to the Middle East.
