San Diego County leaders speak out on U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran

San Diego’s congressional delegation spoke out Saturday about the joint U.S./Israeli attack on Iran, with the area’s Democrats criticizing the attack.

“Even if this was authorized, U.S. regime change in Iran would still be a strategic mistake,” said Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-San Diego. “We shouldn’t let Iran get a nuclear weapon — but the only sustainable way to achieve that is with diplomacy and verifiable agreements not by dropping bombs.”

Rep. Scott Peters, D-Poway, issued a lengthy statement Saturday that read in part: “On behalf of my family, and our entire San Diego community — home to a proud military presence that plays a critical role in our national defense — we wish our troops success and safety as they embark on this dangerous mission. Like many Americans, I did not see an imminent threat to the United States that required immediate military action. This makes me deeply concerned about the risk of American lives being lost in someone else’s war. We owe our servicemembers clear objectives and a defined endgame.

“Before our nation becomes further engaged in another burdensome conflict, Congress should be briefed as to whether this attack was justified and how we go forward. The Constitution gives Congress the authority to declare war, and that responsibility is not optional. Following a full briefing, the War Powers Resolution I’ve supported must be taken up for a vote immediately to ensure that Congress fully exercises its constitutional authority to declare war,” Peters added.

Darrell Issa, R-Fallbrook, who also represents part of the Coachella Valley, expressed his support for the campaign on X, stating: “May God bless and protect our brave service members as they carry out their duties and their mission.”

Issa followed up by reposting an X post from Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Palm Desert, that stated, “The Iranian regime was responsible for: 241 U.S. service member deaths in the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing. At least 603 U.S. service member deaths in Iraq. They have been a threat to our national security interests for decades.”

The San Diego Police Department said it was “monitoring events in Iran and the Middle East. Our patrol divisions and intelligence support are mindful of our religious institutions, cultural centers, and other sensitive locations throughout the city to deter anyone who may try to create fear or harm in our city. At this time, there are no known credible threats to San Diego. We will continue to assess information as it becomes available and will provide updates as needed. We remain dedicated to protecting every community across our city.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said state officials were also monitoring the situation.

“California is closely monitoring the evolving situation in Iran and the surrounding region. Our homeland security and emergency management teams are working with federal partners to prepare for any impacts here at home,” the governor’s office said. “The State Threat Assessment Center is actively coordinating with local law enforcement partners. There is no specific or credible threat to California at this time, and we remain fully prepared and vigilant.”

The U.S. military, with support from Israel, carried out the large- scale strikes early Saturday, hitting the capital city of Tehran the hardest but also striking several other cities.

Iranian officials said one strike killed dozens of people at a girls school.

Iran launched a counteroffensive, attacking Israel and U.S. military bases located in allied Arab nations across the region, including in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq and Jordan. Many of the missiles launched at Israel were intercepted by that country’s air defense system.

“The United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests,” President Donald Trump said in a message to the nation on Saturday. “We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground.”

The president accused Iran of attempting to rebuild its nuclear program after the U.S. carried out a massive attack on it last summer that Trump said at the time had left the program “completely and totally obliterated.”

“The Iranian regime seeks to kill. The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties. That often happens in war, but we’re doing this not for now. We’re doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission,” Trump said Saturday.

In his speech, Trump recited several episodes from decades ago, including the 1979 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in which 52 U.S. hostages were held for more than a year, the 1983 bombing of a U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut that killed 241 U.S. troops, which Trump blamed on Iran’s “proxies,” the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole that killed 17 sailors, which Trump said Iran “knew (about) and were probably involved with,” and the deadly Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which Trump also characterized as a proxy attack directed by Iran.

“For 47 years the Iranian regime has chanted `Death to America’ and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and murder, targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries,” he said.

“It’s been mass terror, and we’re not going to put up with it anymore.”

Trump also called on the Iranian people to rise up and confront their government after the bombing stopped. Thousands of Iranians were killed in protests against the government that began on Dec. 28, 2025.

The United Nations Security Council called a meeting for Saturday to address the situation.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said House Democrats plan to force a vote soon on limiting Trump’s war powers in Iran.

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