[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 515 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 515

 Condemning attacks by Iranian military proxies on the Armed Forces of 
  the United States in Iraq and Syria and emphasizing the urgency of 
               responding to and deterring such attacks.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 19, 2023

    Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Cruz, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Scott of South 
  Carolina, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Manchin, Mrs. Britt, Ms. 
  Hassan, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Bennet, Mrs. Blackburn, and Mr. Sullivan) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                          on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Condemning attacks by Iranian military proxies on the Armed Forces of 
  the United States in Iraq and Syria and emphasizing the urgency of 
               responding to and deterring such attacks.

Whereas, since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the Islamic Republic of Iran and 
        its proxies have terrorized neighboring countries and fueled regional 
        instability and violence, including insurgencies and civil wars in 
        Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen and attacks on Israel and United States 
        allies in the Persian Gulf;
Whereas the Islamic Republic of Iran, including through the Islamic 
        Revolutionary Guard Corps, continues to provide financing, training, and 
        other forms of support to militia groups in Iraq and Syria;
Whereas Iran-controlled militia groups operating in Iraq and Syria include 
        Kata'ib Hizbullah, Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, Harakat Hizbullah al-Nujaba, and 
        Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada;
Whereas Iran-backed militia groups frequently target United States Armed Forces 
        in Iraq and Syria, including through loitering munitions, improvised 
        explosive devices, rockets, and ballistic missiles;
Whereas, in November 2023, individuals associated with Kata'ib Hizbullah and 
        Asa'ib Ahl al Haq claimed that such groups were responsible for attacks 
        on United States Armed Forces, along with Harakat Hizbullah al-Nujaba 
        and Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada;
Whereas the rate of attacks by Iran-backed militia groups against United States 
        Armed Forces in the Middle East increased significantly following Hamas' 
        October 7, 2023, terrorist attack against Israel;
Whereas, since mid-October 2023, Iran-backed militia groups have attacked United 
        States Armed Forces at least 115 times in Iraq and Syria;
Whereas such attacks have injured more than 60 United States military personnel, 
        including through shrapnel wounds, perforated eardrums, and traumatic 
        brain injuries;
Whereas such attacks have damaged the military infrastructure of partner 
        countries, including barracks housing members of the United States Armed 
        Forces at Erbil Air Base, and pose an ongoing risk to the security of 
        personnel, facilities, and citizens of partner countries;
Whereas, on December 8, 2023, Iran-controlled militias attacked the United 
        States embassy in Baghdad with mortar fire;
Whereas, since the October 7 Hamas attack, the administration of President 
        Joseph R. Biden, Jr., has moved warships, combat aircraft, air defense 
        systems, and additional members of the United States Armed Forces to the 
        Middle East to deter militant groups from widening the conflict;
Whereas United States Armed Forces have carried out a series of strikes in Iraq 
        and Syria in direct response to attacks or impending attacks by Iran-
        backed militia groups against United States and coalition forces, 
        including--

    (1) on December 3, 2023, when United States Armed Forces engaged 5 
militants near Kirkuk, Iraq, preparing to launch a one-way attack drone;

    (2) on November 22, 2023, when United States Armed Forces conducted 
airstrikes against 2 facilities in Iraq;

    (3) on November 21, 2023, when a United States AC-130 gunship engaged 
individuals responsible for launching a missile attack on United States and 
coalition forces at Al Assad Airbase, Iraq;

    (4) on November 12, 2023, when United States Armed Forces conducted 
airstrikes against facilities associated with the Islamic Revolutionary 
Guard Corps and affiliated groups near the cities of Abu Kamal and Mayadin, 
Syria;

    (5) on November 8, 2023, when United States Armed Forces conducted 
airstrikes on a weapons storage facility in eastern Syria used by the 
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and affiliated groups; and

    (6) on October 26, 2023, when United States Armed Forces conducted 
self-defense strikes on 2 facilities in eastern Syria used by the Islamic 
Revolutionary Guard Corps and affiliated groups;

Whereas the United States maintains 900 members of the Armed Forces in Syria and 
        2,500 members in Iraq to advise and assist local forces to prevent a 
        resurgence of the Islamic State;
Whereas United States Armed Forces in Iraq also provide support to North 
        Atlantic Treaty Organization Mission Iraq;
Whereas United States Armed Forces remain present in Iraq at the invitation of 
        the Government of Iraq;
Whereas Iran-backed Houthi rebels have conducted a series of attacks on 
        commercial ships traveling through the Red Sea, a vital global trade 
        route, including--

    (1) on December 3, 2023, when ballistic missiles fired by Houthi rebels 
struck 3 commercial ships in the Red Sea while a United States warship shot 
down 3 drones in self-defense;

    (2) on December 13, 2023, when 2 missiles fired from territory held by 
Houthi rebels missed a commercial tanker loaded with jet fuel near the Bab 
el-Mandab Strait;

    (3) on December 14, 2023, when a missile fired from Houthi-controlled 
territory missed a container ship in the Bab el-Mandab Strait;

    (4) on December 15, 2023, when a ballistic missile fired by Houthi 
rebels struck a container ship and caused it to catch fire; and

    (5) on December 18, 2023, when Houthi rebels attacked 2 commercial 
ships in the Red Sea with naval drones;

Whereas such attacks threaten the safety of ships carrying oil, grain, and other 
        goods through the Red Sea, many of which include cargo and energy 
        shipments vital to the United States and partners in Europe and Asia;
Whereas such attacks have forced global shipping companies including MSC, 
        Maersk, CMA CGM, BP, and others to stop using the Red Sea as a travel 
        route for shipments; and
Whereas, on December 19, 2023, the United States announced Operation Prosperity 
        Guardian, an expanded maritime protection force involving certain 
        countries in the Middle East to combat attacks on vessels traveling 
        through the Red Sea: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) condemns attacks by Iran-backed militia groups on 
        members of the United States Armed Forces in Iraq and Syria and 
        support by Iran for such attacks;
            (2) calls on the administration of President Joseph R. 
        Biden, Jr., to increase pressure on the Islamic Republic of 
        Iran to stop such attacks and cease support for militia groups 
        that target members of the United States Armed Forces in Iraq 
        and Syria;
            (3) recognizes that maintaining United States Armed Forces 
        in Iraq and Syria is critical to securing the national 
        interests of the United States by maintaining regional 
        stability and combatting terrorism;
            (4) supports the priorities of the Commander of the United 
        States Central Command to deter the Islamic Republic of Iran, 
        counter violent extremist organizations, and compete 
        strategically;
            (5) commends the mission focus and resiliency of the United 
        States Armed Forces in conducting self-defense strikes against 
        Iran-backed militia groups that pose a threat to United States 
        Armed Forces and interests in Iraq and Syria;
            (6) recognizes the decision of the Biden administration to 
        increase the presence of United States Armed Forces in the 
        Middle East to deter Iran-backed militia groups from attacking 
        members of the United States and undermining the national 
        interests of the United States; and
            (7) urges the Biden administration--
                    (A) to take steps necessary to deter the Islamic 
                Republic of Iran from supporting further attacks; and
                    (B) to declare that further provocations by the 
                Islamic Republic of Iran will be met with a swift and 
                decisive response in full coordination with United 
                States allies and partners to address the threat Iran-
                backed militia groups pose to the United States and 
                allied forces in the Middle East.
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