A group of progressive Democratic members of Congress are demanding answers from the White House about America’s role in the Middle East as Israel wages war in Gaza, invades Lebanon, and attacks Iran. 

“In light of recent regional escalations, including exchanges in hostilities between Israel and Iran and the Israeli government’s ground invasions of Lebanon and Gaza,” Reps Rashida Tlaib, Cori Bush, Ilhan Omar, Summer L. Lee, and André Carson wrote in the letter sent to President Joe Biden last week. “We are deeply concerned about the increasing role and involvement of the US Armed Forces in expanding wars across the Middle East.”

The letter argues that the Constitution and War Powers Act control over going to war to Congress, not the President, and Biden has exceeded his war powers. The Representatives point to US military aid, diplomatic support, and threats to attack Iran to highlight US involvement in Israel’s many ongoing conflicts. 

“This current involvement, and any additional involvement or deployment, of the Armed Forces in the Israeli government’s expanding regional war fall under the definition of “hostilities” in the War Powers Resolution and are not in response to an imminent or actual attack against the United States. As such, these actions are unauthorized and are subject to Congress’ authorities pursuant to the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution.”

The letter demands the White House answer a series of questions about the extent of the American military involvement in the Middle East and under what authorities the Biden administration is using to give it the ability to support Israel in its wars. 

Since October 7, 2023, the White House has flooded Israel with over $22 billion in military support, including arms transfers, waging war against the Houthis in Yemen, and ramping up the US military presence in the Middle East as a threat to Iran.