In the last week, U.S. forces have carried out four sets of strikes against the Yemeni terrorist group, the Houthis. The strike also comes as the Houthi militia has claimed credit for numerous drone and missile attacks targeting commercial shipping throughout the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November, prompting the U.S. to exercise its inherent right and obligation to defend themselves. The Houthis, known as Ansar Allah, are a Zaydi Shiite movement and are suspected of being supplied and funded by the Iranian regime. After interim president Trump had removed the ‘Designated terrorist organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist’ labeling from the Houthis the current president; Joe Biden has reinstated some sanctions.
Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Val Hoyle (D-Ore.), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and some other lawmakers have questioned the Biden administration’s authority to conduct recent strikes inside Yemen. Many have insisted the president must gain congressional authorization to conduct offensive foreign military actions. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby refused rebuffed the bipartisan claims that President Biden lacks the authority to order such strikes in Yemen.