Pence pays tribute to Marines killed in Beirut barracks bombing

Vice President Pence paid tribute to the United States service members killed in the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing in a speech Monday.

“The Beirut’s barracks bombings was the opening salvo in a war that we have waged ever since, the global war on terror,” Pence said, speaking from the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C.

The bombing, which killed 241 United States service members, was later tied to Iran through the group Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization that currently holds seats in Lebanon’s parliament and cabinet. The service members were on a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon at the time of the truck bombing.

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“Under President Trump’s leadership, we’ve re-doubled our commitment to cripple Hezbollah’s terrorist network and bring its leaders to justice,” Pence said.

Pence also touted the administration’s hard line on Iran, saying Trump has “put Iran on notice” and citing the president’s recent decision not to re-certify Iran’s compliance with the nuclear deal.

“Iran’s theocratic rulers aided and abetted the Beirut bombers 34 years ago and even now, Iran praises the attackers and remembers them as martyrs,” Pence said.

The vice president also paid tribute to the four Green Berets killed earlier this month in an ambush in Niger.

“As we do today, we honor their service and sacrifice and we grieve with their families and friends,” he said.