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President Biden told congressional leaders in a letter on Saturday that this week’s airstrike against facilities in Syria linked to Iranian-backed militias was in line with US law of self-defense.
Why is this important: Some Democrats, including Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) And Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) And Rep. Ro Khanna (D-California), criticized the Biden administration for the strike and demanded a briefing.
- “Offensive military action without Congressional approval is unconstitutional absent extraordinary circumstances,” Kaine said Friday.
- A spokesperson for the National Security Council said the Pentagon had previously notified Congress and the administration was continuing to brief the Hill at the member and staff level.
What he says: “These non-state militias have been implicated in recent attacks on US and coalition personnel in Iraq, ”Biden wrote in a Saturday letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Acting Senate Speaker Patrick Leahy.
- Biden said the attacks included “the February 15 attack in Erbil, Iraq, which injured a member of the US service, injured four US contractors, one seriously, and killed a Filipino contractor.”
- “These groups are also engaged in the continued planning of such future attacks,” the president added.
- “In response, I have led this military action to protect and defend our personnel and partners from these attacks and future attacks.”
- “The United States is always ready to take the necessary and proportionate measures to defend itself, including when, as is the case here, the government of the state where the threat is located is unwilling or unable. prevent the use of its territory by non-state militias responsible for such attacks. “
- “I have directed this military action in accordance with my responsibility to protect the citizens of the United States both at home and abroad and in the service of the interests of the national security and foreign policy of the United States, in accordance with to my constitutional authority to conduct the foreign relations of the United States and as Commander-in-Chief Director General. “
- “The United States took this action under the inherent right of United States self-defense, as reflected in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations.”
- Biden concluded by saying he was “providing this report as part of my efforts to keep Congress fully informed, in accordance with the powers of war resolution.”
The big picture: Iran on Saturday condemned the US strike in Syria and denied responsibility for attacks on US targets in Iraq, according to Reuters.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called the strike “illegal and a violation of Syrian sovereignty,” state media reported.
- On Friday, an Iraqi militia official said the attack killed at least one fighter and injured several others, the PA reports.
Go further: Biden says US airstrike in Syria warned Iran to “be careful”
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