Lawmakers press Biden to get Congress' approval for Middle East airstrikes
After ordering air strikes in the Middle East, President Joe Biden is facing demands that he ask Congress for a new authorization for the use of military force.
WASHINGTON — As he orders airstrikes in a growing Middle East conflict, President Joe Biden faces fresh demands that he ask Congress to vote on a new authorization for military action before he proceeds further.
Those calls, however, are falling on deaf ears, with the White House insisting that the commander in chief already has approval to carry out the strikes from two authorizations for use of military force, or AUMF, votes more than 20 years ago, in the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
This month, Biden ordered airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen who have launched attacks on ships in the Red Sea, as well as on Iran-affiliated militia groups that have attacked U.S. personnel and facilities in Iraq and Syria.
And after a drone attack in Jordan killed three U.S. service members and injured more than 30 others over the weekend, Biden vowed retaliation against Iran-backed militants who he said carried out the brazen assault.
“We shall respond,” he said.
Rating: 5