Rep. Ilhan Omar’s assertion that Americans have not been attacked is challenged by documented Iranian-linked assaults.

Omar’s Remarks Ignite Heated Debate

Amid growing debate in Congress over U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, Representative Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., made headlines Tuesday by stating, “No one is attacking or has attacked Americans.” Omar argued that Americans should not be drawn into another costly war, calling for restraint and warning against allowing Israel to involve the United States in the conflict. Her remarks, directed at President Donald Trump, drew immediate scrutiny and fueled a broader discussion on the nature of threats facing Americans abroad.

President Trump responded forcefully on social media, demanding Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” while stating the United States would not target Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei “at least not for now.” Trump emphasized that America’s patience with Iran’s actions was “wearing thin.”

Iran’s Record of Attacks on Americans

Contrary to Omar’s claim, a substantial record of Iranian-linked attacks against Americans has been documented by military and legal sources. Iranian forces and their proxies have launched direct and indirect assaults, supported terror groups, and plotted assassinations targeting U.S. citizens. In November, the Department of Justice announced charges against an Iranian national and two New Yorkers for their alleged involvement in a murder-for-hire scheme aimed at several Americans, including President Trump.

According to a 2019 Pentagon report cited by Military Times, Iran was responsible for the deaths of 603 U.S. service members in Iraq between 2003 and 2011, representing 17% of all American casualties in that period. Bill Roggio, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, stated that Iran provided “money, weapons, training, intelligence, and safe haven” to Taliban subgroups throughout Afghanistan. He asserted that “Iran’s support for the Taliban was only rivaled by that of Pakistan,” and that this backing facilitated nearly every Taliban attack on U.S. personnel.

Legal action has also been taken against Iran for its role in the deaths and injuries of Americans. In 2022, the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., held Iran liable for supporting groups that killed or wounded 30 U.S. personnel in Afghanistan, with families and survivors securing a legal victory under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. The following year, the court found Iran responsible for damages related to the deaths and injuries of 40 U.S. service members in Iraq due to Tehran’s support for terrorism.

Recent years have seen continued violence. Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria have launched over 180 attacks on U.S. forces since late 2023. In January 2024, a drone strike near the Jordan-Syria border killed three Americans and wounded 25 others, prompting the Justice Department to charge two Iranians, one holding dual U.S. citizenship, in connection with the incident. Congressional leaders have highlighted these persistent threats, with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, noting over 150 attacks on U.S. troops by Iranian proxies following the Hamas attacks of October 2023.

Iran’s involvement in earlier decades is also well-documented. In 1983, Iranian-linked operatives orchestrated bombings in Lebanon that killed scores of Americans, including the deadly attacks on the U.S. Embassy and Marine barracks in Beirut. Admissions by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s representative confirmed Tehran’s role in these incidents.

Most recently, Iranian-backed groups continued to target U.S. bases in Iraq, with a June drone attack at Ain al Assad airbase foiled by U.S. defenses. Experts like Roggio interpret these attacks as efforts to deter deeper U.S. involvement, noting that Iran appears cautious to avoid escalation while still supporting proxy groups engaged in hostilities.

The ongoing debate in Congress over the U.S. response to the Israel-Iran conflict is now complicated by the record of Iranian-linked attacks on Americans. As policymakers weigh their next steps, questions about security, deterrence, and the costs of engagement remain at the forefront of U.S. foreign policy discussions.