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Let me provide *** brief update on Operation Epic Fury. Today the United States military continues to carry out large scale combat operations in Iran to eliminate the grave threats posed to America by this terrible terrorist regime. Following our obliteration of Iran’s nuclear program in Operation Midnight Hammer *** short while ago. We warned Iran not to make any attempt to rebuild at *** different location because they were unable to use the ones that we so powerfully blew up, but they ignored those warnings and refused to cease their pursuit of nuclear weapons. In addition, the regime’s conventional ballistic missile program was growing rapidly and dramatically. And this posed *** very clear colossal threat to America and our forces stationed overseas. The regime already had missiles capable of hitting Europe and our bases, both local and overseas, and would soon have had missiles capable of reaching. Our beautiful America. The purpose of this fast growing missile program was to shield their nuclear weapon development and make it extraordinarily difficult for anyone to stop them from making these highly forbidden by us nuclear weapons. We were the ones that were complaining. We were the ones that. Wanted it stopped, but everybody was behind us. They just didn’t have the courage to say so.
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Who is the Gang of Eight, the members of Congress briefed on Iran?
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said the “Gang of Eight” was briefed about potential military action against Iran earlier this week, ahead of the U.S. strikes on the country. He was referring to eight members of Congress who are briefed on intelligence matters: the majority and minority leaders of each chamber and the chairmen and ranking minority members of both the House and Senate intelligence committees.”The Gang of 8 was briefed in detail earlier this week that military action may become necessary to protect American troops and American citizens in Iran. I received updates from Secretary Rubio thereafter, and I will remain in close contact with the President and the Department of War as this operation proceeds. We pray for the safety of our brave servicemembers and our allies involved in Operation Epic Fury. May God bless them, and may God bless America,” Johnson wrote on X.The Intelligence Oversight Act of 1980 requires the CIA to “keep the congressional intelligence committees fully and currently informed of all intelligence activities, including any significant anticipated intelligence activity.” It says the president can limit that information to only specific members if “essential to meet extraordinary circumstances affecting vital U.S. interests.” Those members are the Gang of Eight.Video below: Pentagon provides update on Iran operation for first time since strikes beganOn Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will brief the full membership of Congress on the U.S. military operation against Iran, the White House said Sunday.The barrage of U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran killed the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and around 40 senior figures, including the head of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and the country’s defense minister. Iran has retaliated with strikes on Israel, neighboring Gulf states, and targets critical to the world’s production of oil and natural gas.Trump has said bombing will continue, estimating the operations will last four to five weeks but saying he’s prepared “to go far longer than that.”Who are the current ‘Gang of Eight’ members? U.S. House Committee on Intelligence:Rick Crawford (R): ChairJim Himes (D): Ranking memberUnited States Senate Committee on Intelligence:Tom Cotton (R): ChairMark Warner (D): Ranking memberU.S. House:Mike Johnson (R): Speaker of the HouseHakeem Jeffries (D): Minority leaderU.S. Senate:John Thune (R): Majority leaderChuck Schumer (D): Minority leader
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said the “Gang of Eight” was briefed about potential military action against Iran earlier this week, ahead of the U.S. strikes on the country.
He was referring to eight members of Congress who are briefed on intelligence matters: the majority and minority leaders of each chamber and the chairmen and ranking minority members of both the House and Senate intelligence committees.
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“The Gang of 8 was briefed in detail earlier this week that military action may become necessary to protect American troops and American citizens in Iran. I received updates from Secretary Rubio thereafter, and I will remain in close contact with the President and the Department of War as this operation proceeds. We pray for the safety of our brave servicemembers and our allies involved in Operation Epic Fury. May God bless them, and may God bless America,” Johnson wrote on X.
The Intelligence Oversight Act of 1980 requires the CIA to “keep the congressional intelligence committees fully and currently informed of all intelligence activities, including any significant anticipated intelligence activity.” It says the president can limit that information to only specific members if “essential to meet extraordinary circumstances affecting vital U.S. interests.” Those members are the Gang of Eight.
Video below: Pentagon provides update on Iran operation for first time since strikes began
On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will brief the full membership of Congress on the U.S. military operation against Iran, the White House said Sunday.
The barrage of U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran killed the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and around 40 senior figures, including the head of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and the country’s defense minister. Iran has retaliated with strikes on Israel, neighboring Gulf states, and targets critical to the world’s production of oil and natural gas.
Trump has said bombing will continue, estimating the operations will last four to five weeks but saying he’s prepared “to go far longer than that.”
Who are the current ‘Gang of Eight’ members?
U.S. House Committee on Intelligence:
- Rick Crawford (R): Chair
- Jim Himes (D): Ranking member
United States Senate Committee on Intelligence:
- Tom Cotton (R): Chair
- Mark Warner (D): Ranking member
U.S. House:
- Mike Johnson (R): Speaker of the House
- Hakeem Jeffries (D): Minority leader
U.S. Senate:
- John Thune (R): Majority leader
- Chuck Schumer (D): Minority leader
