Jack Keane on Saudi oil attacks: We have a major crisis on our hands
Retired Gen. Jack Keane calls attack in key oil facilities in Saudi Arabia a threat to the world economy.
Fox News senior strategic analyst Gen. Jack Keane said Wednesday that the U.S. military “must conduct a retaliatory strike” against Iran following this past weekend's attacks on Saudi oil facilities.
“We have a major crisis on our hands here,” Keane told host Dana Perino on “The Daily Briefing.”
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo doubled down on his claim that Iran is responsible for the attacks, telling reporters earlier Wednesday that the strikes were “an act of war.”
SAUDI OIL ATTACKS AN 'ACT OF WAR' BY IRAN, NOT YEMEN REBELS, POMPEO CLAIMS
Speaking in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Pompeo added that even if the "fraudulent claims" of responsibility by the Yemen Houthi rebels were true, "it doesn't change the fingerprints of the [Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei] as having put at risk the global energy supply."
“In reality, this is not just an attack on the largest field in the Middle East and our allies, Saudi Arabia," Keane said. "It is an egregious act of war because it is an attack on the world’s economy."
POMPEO ACCUSES IRAN OF 'UNPRECEDENTED ATTACK' AFTER DRONES HIT SAUDI OIL FACILITIES
Keane said that since 1945, one of the core U.S. national interests has been to maintain and safeguard the Middle East oil flow in support of a stable global economy.
"As such, the United States and our allies can not let this stand," he said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Realistically now, we have to conduct a military retaliatory strike and the reason for that is we must impose costs on Iran to deter them from disrupting the world’s economy because that is what they are clearly focused on," Keane added. "At this point, words and sanctions are not doing that."
Barnini Chakraborty contributed to this report.
Fox News First
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.