(NewsNation) – The USA Air strikes were carried out against Iran-backed militias on Friday in Iraq and Syria in response to a drone strike that killed three U.S. soldiers and injured more than 40 others in Jordan.

Rep. Richard McCormick, R-Ga., questioned the impact of the retaliatory attack, saying it was “absolutely not” enough to deter Iran from further provoking tensions in the region.

“Iran did not suffer directly. “Let’s face it, they’re the ones producing these weapons, they’re distributing these weapons, they’re encouraging them to use them against U.S. troops and our allies around the world,” McCormick said Friday on “CUOMO” after the strikes were announced.

The US struck more than 85 targets in Syria and Iraq, including command and control centers, intelligence centers, rockets and missiles, drone and ammunition depots, and other facilities linked to militias or the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force.

The attacks are in response to a drone attack on a US military outpost in Jordan killed three soldiers last week. President Joe Biden and other senior U.S. leaders had warned for days that America would strike back against the militias, making clear it would not be a single strike but a “graded response” over a longer period of time .

“Everything should be on the table,” McCormick said of possible future attacks.

McCormick’s comments echo those of many of his Republican colleagues, who said the attacks did not come soon enough and that Biden had telegraphed his intentions to Iran and its proxies. The president said last week the United States would respond at a time and place of its choosing.

Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Richard Newton believes an expanded air and special warfare campaign is needed to combat Iranian-backed proxies.

“But the culprit here isn’t the proxies — the culprit is Iran,” Newton said on “CUOMO.” “The bottom line is it’s a start. I expect a sustained campaign in the next few days, if not a few weeks.”

The U.S. strikes did not appear to be directly aimed at Iran or senior leaders of the Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force within its borders, as the U.S. seeks to prevent further escalation of the conflict. Iran has denied being behind the attack in Jordan.

It was unclear what impact the strikes would have. Days of US warnings may have caused militia members to disperse and go into hiding. With multiple groups operating at different locations in multiple countries, a knockout is unlikely.

Although one of the main Iranian-backed militias, Kataib Hezbollah, said it would stop attacks on American troops, others have vowed to continue the fight and portray themselves as champions of the Palestinian cause, while the war in Gaza shows no signs of ending shows.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told NewsNation the retaliation was an “appropriate” response on the drone attack in Jordan.

“Nations around the world must know that if they harm American soldiers, we will strike back,” he said. “My hope is that this is just the beginning of a longer campaign.”

He also called on the United States to act more forcefully to counter attacks on Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have attacked ships in the Red Sea.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.