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Schneider, Mast Urge Tillerson to Visit Israel Following Iranian Drone Incursion

February 13, 2018

Bipartisan letter reiterates call for Administration strategy on Syrian conflict and to prevent Iranian foothold in Syria

Today, U.S. Representatives Brad Schneider (D-IL) and Brian Mast (R-FL) sent a bipartisan letter urging Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to visit Israel following a recent incursion by an Iranian drone controlled and launched from Syria.

Secretary Tillerson is currently touring countries in the Middle East and North Africa including Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, however a visit to Israel is not presently planned as part of this trip. Both Schneider and Mast are members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

"A visit to Israel by Secretary Tillerson at this moment would reassure our ally and make a strong statement to the world that the United States stands with Israel," said Schneider. "Last weekend's incursion into Israeli airspace by an Iranian drone is completely unacceptable, and just the most recent example of Iran's destabilizing and malign activities in the region and around the globe. Tehran cannot be allowed to use the conflict in Syria to establish a permanent presence on the doorstep of our ally Israel. I again call on the Administration to articulate a comprehensive strategy to prevent Iran from gaining a permanent foothold in Syria."

"After serving in the Army for 12 years, I volunteered to serve alongside the IDF because the U.S. and Israel share the common values of human dignity for all people," said Mast. "On the other hand, Iran is a terrorist regime that aims to undermine global security. American leadership is critical to preventing further Iranian aggression."

On February 10, 2018, an Iranian drone originating from Syria violated Israeli airspace and was shot down by the Israeli Air Force. Israeli aircraft destroyed the Iranian drone's command and control center in Syria and upon their return to Israel encountered fire from Syrian anti-aircraft systems, leading to the downing of one F-16 aircraft. In response to this incident, Israel launched additional aircraft to target specific military sites in Syria.

Previously in November 2017, Schneider and Mast led more than 40 of their colleagues on a bipartisan letter calling on the Trump Administration to present Congress with a strategy to prevent Iran's regional expansion.

Today's letter is available online.