Trump Launches Illegal War Against Iran; U.S. Middle East Bases Hit; Democrats Demand War Powers Vote

No Serious Justification For War Given by White House

In an illegal war move, Trump has attacked Iran today, Saturday, Feb. 28, without any valid justification given to the American people and without Congressional knowledge or authorization. Congressional Democrats and at least one Republican have condemned the action and are calling for a War Powers vote.

Multiple targets in Iran have been hit, including one girls’ school where over 50 students were killed.

The US attack have been joined by Israel whose strikes targeted Iran’s supreme leader, president and head of the armed forces.

Trump calls for regime change, and described the US military campaign as “massive and ongoing,” and warned American lives may be lost. He also called on Iranians to “take over your government.”

Iran retaliates: Iran launched an unprecedented wave of strikes toward Israel and US targets across the Middle East. Explosions were reported in the UAE, Qatar, Dubai and Bahrain.

Global reaction: The United Arab Emirates called the conflict a “historic moment” in the Middle East, saying world leaders had failed to ensure the region’s stability. The leaders of some US allies expressed concern, while some Arab nations condemned Iran’s retaliation.

The Democratic leaders of the House and the Senate are calling for the Trump administration to swiftly brief Congress on the US strikes against Iran and for lawmakers to provide a check on President Donald Trump’s military authority abroad without delay.

“Congress must vote on a War Powers resolution immediately,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote on X.

Jeffries said that Trump “failed to seek Congressional authorization prior to striking Iran. Instead, the President’s decision to abandon diplomacy and launch a massive military attack has left American troops vulnerable to Iran’s retaliatory actions.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer similarly called for the Senate, which returns to Washington on Monday, to “quickly return to session” and “reassert its constitutional duty” by passing a resolution that would curb Trump’s war powers against Iran without lawmakers’ approval.

Schumer said he has implored Secretary of State Marco Rubio “to be straight with Congress and the American people about the objectives of these strikes and what comes next” but said the administration has not provided the public with critical details.

“Iran must never be allowed to attain a nuclear weapon but the American people do not want another endless and costly war in the Middle East when there are so many problems at home,” he said in his statement on X. “The administration has not provided Congress and the American people with critical details about the scope and immediacy of the threat.”

Multiple sources told CNN earlier Saturday that although Rubio had notified Gang of Eight members, they were not given a full accounting of the legal justification for the strikes.

CNN

No Serious Justification For War Given by White House

It’s unclear what legal justification the White House will present for the attacks on Iran, but experts are already skeptical given the Constitution’s unambiguous statement that only Congress can declare war and the absence of a law akin to the Iraq War-era Authorization for Use of Military Force.

“As has so often been the case with unilateral presidential uses of force in recent years, there’s no serious argument that either Congress by statute or the Constitution directly authorizes the president to do what he’s done,” said Steve Vladeck, CNN Supreme Court analyst and professor at Georgetown University Law Center.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio didn’t give members of Congress a full accounting of the legal justification for the attacks on Iran, multiple sources say.