Tag

#war powers

7 incidents

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

US Resumes Large-Scale Iran Strikes, Trump Vows to Hit 'Much Harder' and Rejects Iran's Truce Offer as Senate Falls One Vote Short of Ending the War (September 2026)

September 2026 saw the US resume heavy strikes on Iran, Trump threaten to strike 'much harder,' Congress come within one Senate vote of ordering an end to unauthorized hostilities, and Trump reject an Iranian truce proposal — leaving a seven-month war with no congressional authorization and no exit.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Trump Declares Iran Ceasefire 'Over': Nightly US Strikes, Blockade Reimposed, and Troop Deaths Moved Off the War Tally (July 2026)

The June ceasefire collapsed into a renewed nightly US bombing campaign in July 2026: Trump called the truce 'over' and Iran's leaders 'scum,' the blockade was reimposed, strikes hit bridges, energy infrastructure and (per Iran) a nuclear construction site, Iranian authorities reported 50+ dead, four US soldiers were killed — and then quietly moved off the Pentagon's Iran war tally. Congress again declined to stop it.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Islamabad Memorandum Ceasefire Collapses Within Ten Days: Hormuz Strikes, US-Iran Exchange, Trump Threatens Iran 'Will No Longer Exist' (June 2026)

A 60-day ceasefire signed June 17 collapsed within eight days: Iran struck a cargo ship near Hormuz, the US launched its third round of strikes in three weeks, Iranian missiles hit US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, a Qatari civilian died in the crossfire with attribution still unconfirmed, and Trump threatened that Iran 'will no longer exist.' No new congressional authorization exists for any of it.

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

Trump Rejects Iran Ceasefire Proposal, Plans 'Very Major Attack,' Cancels at Last Minute (May 2026)

Trump rejected Iran's peace proposal, called the ceasefire 'on massive life support,' and had a 'very major attack' planned before Gulf allies talked him out of it hours before execution. Congress was not consulted. Vance publicly declared the US 'locked and loaded.' The episode reveals war-making conducted entirely at presidential whim, with no legal or democratic check.

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

Operation Project Freedom: Unilateral Hormuz Convoy Forced Standdown After Saudi Airspace Denial (May 2026)

Trump launched a Navy operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz during a nominal ceasefire without notifying Congress. Saudi Arabia denied US airspace access, collapsing the operation; on May 7 Iran attacked three US destroyers in the strait. The 'pause for negotiations' cover story was contradicted by reporting that Saudi Arabia's airspace denial made the mission militarily impossible.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Operation Midnight Hammer: US Strikes on Iran's Nuclear Sites Without Congressional or UN Authorisation (June 2025)

The US bombed three Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025 without asking Congress or the UN Security Council. A leading international law scholar, writing for the Lieber Institute at West Point, concluded the strikes do not qualify as self-defence. The operation was the first direct US use of force against Iran in this period and preceded the 2026 war.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

April 2018 Strikes on Syrian Chemical-Weapons Facilities Without UN or Congressional Authorisation

Trump ordered a second round of missile strikes on the Syrian government, this time with Britain and France, after a chemical attack in Douma. The strikes had no Security Council mandate and no congressional authorisation. The legal opinion written to justify them widened the President's claimed power to use force on his own.