The Biden Pentagon has denied a state of war with the Iranian-backed Houthis, even though President Joe Biden has submitted notice of military action to Congress as required by the War Powers Resolution.
On January 18, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh was asked by reporters whether another U.S. attack on the Houthis in Yemen meant the United States was now at war with them. Ta. She answered:
We are not at war with the Houthis. In terms of definition, I think it would rather be a clear declaration from the American side.
But Mr. Biden has sent at least two notices to Congress under the War Powers Resolution, which establishes the president's media responsibility for committing U.S. forces to hostilities “in the absence of a declaration of war.”
The War Powers Resolution requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of introducing troops into “hostilities or a situation of imminent hostilities” and explain why it is necessary and the constitutional and legislative authority to do so. , requires the submission of a report explaining the estimated scope. Duration of hostilities or engagement.
The resolution also requires the president to provide Congress with the information it needs to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities “with respect to the nation's involvement in wars and the use of the United States military abroad.”
On Wednesday, January 22, 2024, the United States and United Kingdom launched another military strike against the Houthis in Yemen in response to the group's firing of missiles at U.S. and commercial ships in the Red Sea since October. Mr. Biden then notified Congress.
Mr. Biden wrote:
Consistent with my constitutional authority as Commander-in-Chief and Chief Executive and my responsibility to protect the American people at home and abroad and to advance the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States, I will He directed military operations and directed U.S. diplomacy. relationship. The United States took this necessary and appropriate action in accordance with international law and in the exercise of its inherent right of self-defense as reflected in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. The United States stands ready to take further action as necessary and appropriate to respond to additional threats or attacks.
He added, “I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep Congress well-informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148).” We appreciate Congressional support for this action. ”
Prior to that, Mr. Biden submitted another notice to Congress on the same grounds on January 12, 2024.
The Biden administration claims the airstrikes are in “self-defense,” but at the beginning of the airstrikes, defense officials said the Houthis were targeting commercial ships and whether they were targeting U.S. military vessels. He claimed that it was unclear. But over time, the U.S. military began to claim that the Houthis were targeting U.S. warships.
A group of Republican and Democratic senators has questioned Mr. Biden's decision to have the U.S. military take military action without Congressional authorization.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) in January In a letter to Biden on the 23rd, he wrote:
The Houthis and their backer Iran are responsible for the escalation, but the constitution prohibits the United States from taking military action without a positive vote of Congress unless necessary to repel a surprise attack. There is.
We have long advocated for deliberate Congressional process and approval of decisions that put our service members at risk overseas. There is currently no congressional authorization for U.S. offensive military action against the Houthis.
The senators also asked Biden to provide more information about the administration's legitimacy and authority, as outlined in the War Powers Resolution.
BREAKING: Bipartisan senators send letter to Biden administration questioning legal authority for military action against Red Sea and Houthis
Important points from @Tim Cain @ChrisMurphyCt @senmikelee @sen_todd letter:
”[W]I believe America is participating in the next war… pic.twitter.com/5LU8xtCRSd
— Just Foreign Policy (@justfp) January 23, 2024
The Biden administration has launched attacks against the Houthis even though Biden himself has said he does not believe he can stop them from continuing to attack ships in the Red Sea.
Asked on January 18 whether airstrikes in Yemen are working, Biden said: “Well, when you say 'it's working,' are you deterring the Houthis?” Ta. No. Do you want to continue? Yes. “
Defense officials claimed on Monday that while the Houthis remained capable, airstrikes against them had “removed key capabilities of the Houthis.”
“We believe that previous attacks, tonight's attack, the Jan. 11 attack with the same coalition partners, and numerous self-defense attacks against imminent threats in the intervening period, have shown that the Houthis have significant capabilities. I am confident that it has been removed.” a senior military official said in a briefing to reporters.
RELATED — Kaine: Biden won't stop the Houthis, so we need to do a prisoner swap with Israel to stop the Houthis
Officials have declined to say exactly how much of the Houthi capabilities they believe have been removed.
The Biden administration has vowed to continue the strike.
According to CNN, the Pentagon has named the operation targeting the Houthis “Operation Poseidon Archer” to indicate that the attack against them is part of an ongoing operation.
Recently, there have been two casualties as a result of US military operations against the Houthis.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Navy announced the deaths of two missing Navy SEALs who were part of a mission to seize Iranian weapons from a ship bound for the Houthis off the coast of Somalia.
The Pentagon insisted the seizure mission was separate from U.S. military operations targeting Houthi forces or accompanying commercial ships in the Red Sea.
Follow Christina Wong's X on Breitbart News. society of truth,or Facebook.
