Pricey Mr. Speaker: (Pricey Madam President:)
As I’ve reported beforehand, militia teams affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have perpetrated a sequence of assaults in opposition to United States personnel and services in Iraq and Syria. These assaults, together with greater than a dozen assaults during the last week, have positioned underneath grave risk the lives of United States personnel and Coalition working alongside United States forces.
As I reported on October 27, 2023, in response to this sequence of assaults and persevering with threats of future assaults, at my course, United States forces carried out focused strikes in opposition to services in jap Syria utilized by the IRGC and IRGC‑affiliated teams.
On the evening of November 8, 2023, at my course, United States forces carried out a precision strike in opposition to a facility in jap Syria utilized by the IRGC and IRGC-affiliated teams for weapons storage and different functions. The strike was taken to ascertain deterrence and was carried out in a fashion designed to restrict the chance of escalation and keep away from civilian casualties. I directed the strike in an effort to defend and defend our personnel, to degrade and disrupt the continued sequence of assaults in opposition to america and our companions, and to discourage Iran and Iran-backed militia teams from conducting or supporting additional assaults on United States personnel and services.
I directed this army motion per my duty to guard United States residents each at house and overseas and in furtherance of United States nationwide safety and overseas coverage pursuits, pursuant to my constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Govt and to conduct United States overseas relations. The USA took this mandatory and proportionate motion per worldwide legislation and within the train of america’ inherent proper of self-defense as mirrored in Article 51 of the United Nations Constitution. The USA stands able to take additional motion, as mandatory and acceptable, to deal with additional threats or assaults.
I’m offering this report as a part of my efforts to maintain the Congress absolutely knowledgeable, per the Conflict Powers Decision (Public Regulation 93-148). I recognize the help of the Congress on this motion.
Sincerely,
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
