President Biden told Congressional leadership on Saturday that this week’s airstrike against facilities in Syria linked to Iranian-backed militias was in line with the US’s right to self-defense.
Why it matters: Some Democrats, including Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) And Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) And Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Have criticized the Biden government for the strike and demanded a briefing.
- “Offensive military action without Congressional approval is not constitutional without extraordinary circumstances,” Kaine said Friday.
- A National Security Council spokesman has said that the Pentagon has notified Congress in advance and that the government continues to inform the Hill at the level of members and staff.
What he says: “Those non-state militias were involved in recent attacks on United States and coalition personnel in Iraq, ” Biden wrote in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate president pro tempore Patrick Leahy on Saturday.
- Biden said those attacks included the “February 15 attack in Erbil, Iraq, in which a US military was injured, four US contractors were injured, including one critical, and a Filipino contractor was killed”.
- “These groups are also planning future such attacks,” the president added.
- “In response, I led this military action to protect and defend our personnel and partners from these attacks and future such attacks.”
- “The United States is always ready to take the necessary and proportionate measures in self-defense, even when, as is the case here, the government of the state where the threat is located is unwilling or unable to use its territory by non-state militias responsible for such attacks. “
- “ I have conducted this military action in accordance with my responsibility to protect American citizens both at home and abroad and to advance the interests of the national security and foreign policy of the United States, by virtue of my constitutional authority to to maintain relations with the United States and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive. “
- “The United States has taken this action by virtue of the United States’ inherent right to self-defense, as set forth in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.”
- Biden concluded by saying that he “provided this report as part of my efforts to keep Congress fully informed, in accordance with the War Powers Resolution.”
The big picture: Iran on Saturday condemned the US attack in Syria and denied responsibility for the attacks on US targets in Iraq, Reuters said.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called the strike “illegal and a violation of Syria’s sovereignty,” state media reported.
- An Iraqi militia official said Friday the attack killed at least one fighter and injured several others, AP reports.
Go deeper: Biden says US air strike in Syria warned Iran to “be careful”