{"id":21887,"date":"2025-04-01T11:58:05","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T15:58:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/?p=21887"},"modified":"2025-04-01T11:58:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T15:58:52","slug":"merkley-paul-u-s-strikes-on-yemen-undermine-american-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.merkley.senate.gov\/es\/merkley-paul-u-s-strikes-on-yemen-undermine-american-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Merkley, Paul: U.S. Strikes on Yemen Undermine\u00a0American\u00a0Law"},"content":{"rendered":"

Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, in response to escalating U.S. military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Kentucky\u2019s U.S. Senator Rand Paul joined forces to urge the Trump Administration to adhere to the Constitution and consult with Congress in order to avoid stumbling into another costly and unnecessary war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their bipartisan effort demands swift answers amid growing national security concerns as a result of U.S. military engagement in the region and the administration\u2019s careless decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Merkley and Paul wrote in their letter to President Trump,<\/strong> \u201cU.S. military action must have a clear strategy that advances our country\u2019s long-term national security objectives and is compliant with the law of armed conflict. Congress should be briefed about the recent strikes against the Houthis and the total cost expected to be incurred by this campaign at the American taxpayer\u2019s expense. The Administration must also explain to Congress and the American people its expected path forward given the failure of previous such efforts and statements from the Administration that the military campaign will continue and possibly expand to include military action against Iran.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWe also recognize that any U.S. military response\u2014especially sustained military engagement\u2014must be conducted within the framework of the Constitution. Although the Constitution assigns the President the role of commander in chief of the U.S. military, it is Congress that is entrusted with the power to declare war\u2014and Congress has not done so with respect to the Houthis,\u201d the Senators strongly emphasized.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Merkley and Paul reminded the president of the requirements under the War Powers Resolution of 1973 to notify Congress in the event of military engagement. They asked for a classified briefing within 10 days to address their concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full text of the letter can be found by clicking aqu\u00ed <\/a>y sigue a continuaci\u00f3n:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Estimado presidente Trump:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We write in regard to recent and ongoing U.S. military strikes against Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since at least October 2023, the U.S. military has engaged in fending off Houthi attacks against Israel, commercial shipping and U.S. military assets. The Houthi attacks, backed by Iran, have threatened global commerce, endangered U.S. and allied forces, and threatened freedom of navigation in a critical international waterway. We strongly condemn these attacks and support efforts to protect U.S. and allied interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, neither the U.S. strikes since October 2023 ordered by President Joe Biden, nor the previous years-long campaign against the Houthis conducted by Saudi Arabia were successful in establishing deterrence against the Houthis. Rather, these campaigns only served to embolden the Houthis and rally their recruiting base. The rare instances in which the Houthis have calmed their recent efforts to harass Red Sea shipping lanes were during sustained ceasefire periods in the Israel-Hamas war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. military action must have a clear strategy that advances our country\u2019s long-term national security objectives and is compliant with the law of armed conflict. Congress should be briefed about the recent strikes against the Houthis and the total cost expected to be incurred by this campaign at the American taxpayer\u2019s expense. The Administration must also explain to Congress and the American people its expected path forward given the failure of previous such efforts and statements from the Administration that the military campaign will continue and possibly expand to include military action against Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also recognize that any U.S. military response\u2014especially sustained military engagement\u2014must be conducted within the framework of the Constitution. Although the Constitution assigns the President the role of commander in chief of the U.S. military, it is Congress that is entrusted with the power to declare war\u2014and Congress has not done so with respect to the Houthis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further, the War Powers Resolution of 1973 requires that the president consult with Congress before introducing U.S. Armed Forces into \u201chostilities\u201d or \u201csituations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances\u201d and to notify Congress within 48 hours of having done so. This law helps ensure that U.S. military action is subject to rigorous congressional oversight and deliberation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As such, we request a classified briefing from your Administration within 10 days to address the following questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n