As leading Democrats condemn the coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran’s ruling regime, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is taking a sharply different approach — vigorously defending President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s operation while criticizing members of his own party who have labeled it reckless.

Fetterman, who has increasingly embraced outspoken pro-Israel positions, questioned why critics on both the far-right and far-left have reacted so strongly against the military action. He argued that the strikes were a justified response to Tehran’s conduct and said the backlash highlights growing divisions within the Democratic Party over how firmly to stand with Israel as tensions escalate in the region.

On Monday, Fetterman posted that he’s “not sure why it’s controversial to anyone to appreciate and celebrate wiping out 49 leaders of one of the most evil regimes in recorded history,” after Trump revealed that the planned mission — expected to last up to four weeks — was moving faster than anticipated once intelligence showed several high-ranking Iranian officials were gathered in a single location and could be targeted simultaneously.

Following the initial strike on Shabbos, Fetterman reshared an image circulated by the “Israel War Room” depicting a Wanted-style poster of Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei with the word “Eliminated” emblazoned across it.

“Let’s see who grieves for that garbage,” Fetterman captioned.

In subsequent remarks, the former Pennsylvania lieutenant governor expressed appreciation for Trump’s leadership, stating that he “has been willing to do what’s right and necessary to produce real peace in the region.”

“God bless the United States, our great military, and Israel.”

Fetterman also took aim at fellow Democrats who have consistently said Iran must not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons but are now criticizing the strikes.

“Every member in the U.S. Senate agrees we cannot allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon,” he wrote on X.

“I’m baffled why so many are unwilling to support the only action to achieve that. Empty sloganeering vs. commitment to global security — which is it?”

He added Saturday that he would be a “hard no” if Democrats attempted to force a vote on a war powers resolution aimed at limiting Trump’s authority.

Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, however, told reporters in Richmond on Monday that he plans to push ahead with a vote on the War Powers Resolution he introduced in January concerning Iran.

In a separate public statement, Kaine questioned whether Trump is “too mentally incapacitated to realize we had a diplomatic agreement with Iran…”

“The Senate should immediately return to session and vote on my War Powers Resolution to block the use of U.S. forces in hostilities against Iran. Every single Senator needs to go on the record about this dangerous, unnecessary, and idiotic action,” Kaine said.

Fetterman was not alone among Democrats in defending the strike. Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a former NYPD officer, criticized what he described as political extremes for overlooking the human rights violations, killings, and attacks on Americans carried out under Khamenei, 86, and his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Rep. Gregory Landsman, D-Ohio, also voiced support for the operation, likening the killing of Khamenei to the U.S. mission that eliminated Usama bin Laden. Still, he stopped short of fully endorsing Trump’s broader strategy.

“There’s a lot of folks in Congress who don’t trust this president and I’m one of those people. In the end I trust the generals and I trust our military,” he told the Cincinnati Enquirer.

{Matzav.com}