A Texas lawmaker and former naval aviator is weighing in on the U.S. military campaign against Iran, offering a frank battlefield assessment while raising concerns about unintended consequences in one of the world's most critical shipping lanes.
In an exclusive interview with Texas Politics Publisher Javier Manjarres, Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX) said the military operation has delivered results that were both justified and effective.
"It was the right thing to do and it's the righteous thing to do," Ellzey said. "We've been at war with a country for 46 years that we've never returned fire on. From the perspective of actual battlefield success, it has been a spectacular victory."
Ellzey, drawing on his background as a naval aviator, pointed to U.S. air dominance as a key indicator of success. "We own the skies," he said, noting that aircraft losses in enemy territory came from man-portable air defense systems rather than fixed weapons, a distinction he emphasized as significant.
However, he flagged the Strait of Hormuz as a growing concern, describing it as a potential flashpoint with serious economic consequences.
At just 24 miles across, he warned that Iran retains the capability to threaten billion-dollar tankers carrying hydrocarbons through the narrow passage. "This is one of those probably unintended consequences of starting a very successful military engagement," he said.
Regarding military readiness going forward, Ellzey stressed the urgent need to replenish weapons stockpiles.
"We're gonna have to rebuild our magazine. We need to pay for the weapons we've already expended, that needs to be passed."
When asked about the 2026 midterm elections and whether Republicans could lose the House, Ellzey declined to speculate, citing the distance from Election Day. "Way too soon to tell," he said, leaving the question of congressional control firmly open.
