Arabic version: ترامب يُبلغ الكونغرس عن العمليات العسكرية الإيرانية غير المؤكدة

President Donald Trump has communicated to lawmakers that it is currently unclear what the “full scope and duration” of U.S. military strikes on Iran will be. In a letter notifying Congress of the military action, Trump described the threat from Iran as “untenable” and stated that previous diplomatic efforts had failed. According to BBC News, the U.S. and Israel began striking Iran on Saturday, prompting Iran to retaliate with missile and drone attacks on Israel and U.S.-allied Gulf states.

In his letter, Trump emphasized Iran’s status as a significant state sponsor of terrorism and highlighted the potential for nuclear weapon development. He asserted that Iran’s missile capabilities pose a direct threat to U.S. forces and allies. The president clarified that no U.S. ground forces had been committed to the operation and that efforts were being made to minimize civilian casualties.

Lawmakers have expressed concerns about the legality of the strikes, questioning whether Trump acted without proper congressional approval. While some members of Congress attended a classified briefing from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and others, many left feeling uncertain about the administration’s objectives and future plans. House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed that the administration had notified congressional leaders in a timely manner, asserting compliance with legal requirements.

Despite this, some senators voiced their apprehensions. Senator Chris Murphy stated that the situation is grave and called for a debate on military force authorization. Others, like Senator Richard Blumenthal, expressed fear that U.S. ground troops might be necessary to achieve the administration’s goals, although the specific priorities remain unclear. The Senate is expected to vote on a war powers resolution soon, with a close outcome anticipated as some Republicans remain undecided.