President Joe Biden is receiving backlash from Democrats after making the decision to retaliate against Houthi forces. Democratic lawmakers are questioning why he bypassed Congress, as the Constitution requires Congress to authorize military action.
The Iranian-backed Houthis disrupted international trade by launching attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. The forces have launched dozens of attacks since the Israel-Hamas war.
Despite warnings of consequences if they continued launching missiles into the channel, the Houthis launched 21 missiles directly targeting American ships in the largest-scale attack since the beginning of the war.
In return, Biden called on the military to take action.
The U.S. and U.K. hit 60 targets on 16 Houthi sites. Biden said if the Houthis continue their attacks, they will be hit again.
However, the president’s response is being met with some criticism within Congress.
“@POTUS is violating Article I of the Constitution by carrying out airstrikes in Yemen without congressional approval,” Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., posted on X. “The American people are tired of endless war.”
Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., shared the sentiment.
“The people do not want more of our taxpayer dollars going to endless war and the killing of civilians,” Bush wrote. “Stop the bombing and do better by us.”
“The United States cannot risk getting entangled into another decades-long conflict without Congressional authorization,” Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., also said on X. “The White House must work with Congress before continuing these airstrikes in Yemen.”
While some Republicans are also voicing their concerns about Biden bypassing Congress, Biden is getting more support from the Republican side of the aisle for taking action.
“I welcome the U.S. and coalition operations against the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists responsible for violently disrupting international commerce in the Red Sea and attacking American vessels,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a press release. “President Biden’s decision to use military force against these Iranian proxies is overdue.”