SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – The United States and Israel launched a major military strike on Iran on Saturday, prompting swift reactions from Florida lawmakers and personal accounts from a Suncoast family sheltering in neighboring Jordan.
U.S. Central Command posted on social media “As the President stated, our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.
The President ordered bold action. CENTCOM (United States Central Command) forces are delivering an overwhelming and unrelenting blow.”
More than 200 people killed across Iran by Israel-US strikes, country’s state TV reports
In a social media post, Sen. Ashley Moody, expressed support for the action.
“For decades, this evil Iranian regime has called for the death of America, the destruction of the West, terrorized its own people and others, and caused fear and instability in the region. When someone says they want to destroy you, you should listen, and we have a @POTUS (President of the United States) that did just that. Today, all Americans should be praying for the success and the safety of our servicemen and women.”
Sen. Rick Scott also voiced support in a social media post.
“God bless our troops. God bless our country. God bless @POTUS America will ALWAYS stand with our great friend Israel, and we must never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”
Congressman Vern Buchanan posted “Please join Sandy (Buchanan) and I in praying for our brave servicemembers carrying out Operation Epic Fury.”
On the Suncoast, the conflict is being felt personally by the family of Angel Alvarez Jr., a producer for ABC7. Alvarez said his parents are currently in Jordan, which borders Israel.
“You can see the missiles going over,” his parents told him. “We can hear the explosions.”
They said daily life has been disrupted, with businesses closed and basic necessities harder to find. “Everything is shut down,” they said, adding that even finding water has become difficult.
Attack on Iran disrupts commercial flights across the Middle East and beyond
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