Anna Hartz
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated quickly in recent weeks.
The United States and Israel launched a coordinated strike on Iran last Saturday. The move has drawn intense scrutiny in Washington and around the world.
President Donald Trump initially said the strike aimed to eliminate “imminent threats” against the American people, writes TV2. He framed it as a preventive action to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
But the administration’s explanation soon changed. On Monday evening, top officials briefed senior members of Congress behind closed doors. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Dan Caine all explained the mission’s purpose.
A response to Israel’s plan
Rubio told reporters before the meeting that the strike was a necessary response to Israel’s planned attack on Iran. He said U.S. leaders knew an Israeli operation could provoke attacks on American forces. Acting first, he explained, would prevent heavy U.S. casualties.
Several congressional leaders confirmed they received the same explanation. Mike Johnson, Republican House Majority Leader, said Israel was determined to act, with or without U.S. support. He called the decision difficult but necessary.
Not everyone agreed. Democratic Senator Mark Warner criticized the shifting explanations from the administration. He said the target of the operation seemed to change multiple times. Warner questioned whether there was an imminent threat to the U.S., noting that the risk was more directly aimed at Israel.
Reasoning “off-base”
Experts outside government also voiced concern. Peter Viggo Jakobsen, a political science professor in Denmark, called the new U.S. reasoning “completely off-base.” He said it was unusual for American defense policy to be dictated by Israel. He added that there is no evidence Iran posed an immediate threat to U.S. targets, especially while negotiating with Washington.
Legal questions are also surfacing. The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war. Critics argue Trump’s strike could count as an unauthorized military action. Some lawmakers are pushing a “War Powers” proposal to limit the president’s ability to order further attacks without congressional approval.
Trump has warned that the operation is not finished and said the U.S. has yet to see the “big wave.” Congress may now face a critical decision on whether to approve or restrict additional military actions in the region.
