Further US strikes expected in response to deadly Middle East attack

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- U.S. leaders warn more strikes are coming in the Middle East as part of a campaign to disable Iranian-backed militia groups. 

Over the weekend U.S. forces ramped up attacks in the Middle East. U.S. Central Command says the strikes on Saturday and Sunday were in self-defense to take out the Houthi missiles threatening U.S. ships. 

"The focus here is on disrupting and degrading their capabilities to conduct these kind of attacks," Defense Department Spokesman Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder said.

Separately on Friday U.S. forces launched an air assault in Iraq and Syria targeting other Iran backed groups in direct retaliation for the drone attack that killed 3 American soldiers in Jordan. 

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said there's more to come. 

"That is not the end of it. We intend to take additional strikes and additional action to continue to send a clear message that the United States will respond when our forces are attacked or our people are killed," Sullivan said. 

Leaders say the U.S. response is meant to be forceful, but also avoid a war with Iran. 

Though some Republicans are slamming the Biden administration's approach, Speaker Mike Johnson argued that the president needs to be tougher with Iran. 

"We should not be appeasing Iran. That's what the Biden administration has been doing for the last three years. We are projecting weakness on the world stage," Johnson said. 

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)  said he wants the next U.S. strikes to hit Iran more directly. 

"I hope they really will hurt Iran in their pocketbook or kill their leadership, because if you don't nothing changes," Graham said. 

Sullivan pushed back against the criticism. 

"Of course, there will always be armchair quarterbacks, but we are confident in the steps that we have taken so far and we are confident in the course that we are on going forward," Sullivan said. 

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East this week to meet with allies in an effort to cool tensions in the region.