Members of the US Congress criticized US President Joe Biden because he, without their approval, authorized strikes against the Shiite Houthi movement that rules north and central Yemen.
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On Friday night, the US and UK launched air raids on targets in four provinces in different parts of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, Hodeidah, Taiz and Saada, local government sources said.
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As both Republicans and Democrats note, Biden’s actions “violate the first article of the US Constitution,” which vests full legislative power in Congress.
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According to Oregon Democratic Congresswoman Val Hoyley, “Congress did not approve the airstrikes.” At the same time, some congressmen compared the events with the beginning of the war in Iraq.
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“This is why I voted against the Iraq War. Violence begets violence. We need a ceasefire to prevent a deadly, costly and catastrophic escalation,” Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Lee wrote on her social media account.
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In light of the attacks on the Houthis, Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace called on her social networks to “reject partisan differences” and demand that Biden comply with the law, since “only Congress decides when to declare war.”
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At the same time, a number of members of Congress support the operation of the US-led coalition, but note that military intervention began with a noticeable delay.
