Tag

#war-powers

3 incidents

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

Assassination of Qasem Soleimani: Extrajudicial Killing Without Congressional Authorization

Trump ordered the killing of Iran's most senior military commander without consulting Congress and without a clear and credible imminent threat justification. The strike killed Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Iran retaliated with ballistic missiles against U.S. forces in Iraq. The administration offered contradictory and later-disputed justifications for the 'imminence' of the claimed threat.

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

Soleimani Assassination: Drone Strike Without Congressional Notification, Iran Ballistic Missile Response

Soleimani was one of the most senior military commanders of a foreign government. His killing — outside declared combat zones, in the territory of a third country (Iraq) — raised significant questions under international law and the U.S. War Powers Resolution. Congressional leaders, including Senate majority leader McConnell, were not briefed in advance. Iran's ballistic missile response struck Al Asad Air Base and injured 110 U.S. service members; Trump initially told the public no one was hurt. The administration's justification for the strike — an 'imminent threat' — was not substantiated with specific intelligence that was shared with Congress.

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

Shayrat Airbase Strike: Unilateral Military Action Against Syria Without Congressional Authorization

Following a chemical weapons attack on Khan Shaykhun attributed to the Assad regime, Trump ordered a cruise missile strike on the airbase allegedly used to launch the attack. The strike was conducted without Congressional authorization and without a UN Security Council mandate. U.S. officials pre-warned Russia, which warned Syrian forces. The airbase was operational again within hours.