President Donald Trump notified congressional leaders of a series of new U.S. airstrikes against Iran, emphasizing that the operations are limited and designed to avoid civilian casualties. This latest military action comes after Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital international shipping route.
In a letter accompanying the notification, Trump stated that no American ground forces were involved in these strikes. Notably, he based his authority for the military action on powers outlined in Article I of the Constitution, a move that drew surprise from political analysts.
Kristen Holmes, CNN’s senior White House correspondent, reacted with astonishment to the legal justification, highlighting that Trump had previously said he considered these actions defensive and did not need to inform Congress. This marks a shift in his approach to congressional oversight. Despite Trump’s claims of protecting national security, the conflict has been costly—both financially and in terms of U.S. lives lost, with reported expenses reaching roughly $1 billion per day and several service members dead.