[House Document 117-19]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




117th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 117-19




 
               NOTIFICATION OF A TARGETED MILITARY STRIKE

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                     THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

 NOTIFICATION OF A TARGETED MILITARY STRIKE AGAINST INFRASTRUCTURE IN 
     EASTERN SYRIA USED BY IRAN-SUPPORTED NON-STATE MILITIA GROUPS
     
     

		[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
		
		


   March 1, 2021.--Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 
                         ordered to be printed
                         
                         
                         
                         
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                     U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
			 
19-011 			   WASHINGTON : 2021
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                                           The White House,
                                     Washington, February 27, 2021.
Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Madam Speaker: At my direction, on February 25, 2021, 
United States forces conducted a targeted military strike 
against infrastructure in eastern Syria used by Iran-supported 
non-state militia groups.
    Those non-state militia groups were involved in recent 
attacks against United States and Coalition personnel in Iraq, 
including the February 15, 2021, attack in Erbil, Iraq, which 
wounded one United States service member, wounded four United 
States contractors, including one critically, and killed one 
Filipino contractor. These groups are also engaged in ongoing 
planning for future such attacks.
    In response, I directed this military action to protect and 
defend our personnel and our partners against these attacks and 
future such attacks. The United States always stands ready to 
take necessary and proportionate action in self-defense, 
including when, as is the case here, the government of the 
state where the threat is located is unwilling or unable to 
prevent the use of its territory by non-state militia groups 
responsible for such attacks.
    I directed this military action consistent with my 
responsibility to protect United States citizens both at home 
and abroad and in furtherance of United States national 
security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to my 
constitutional authority to conduct United States foreign 
relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive. The 
United States took this action pursuant to the United States 
inherent right of self-defense as reflected in Article 51 of 
the United Nations Charter.
    I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep 
the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers 
Resolution (Public Law 93-148). I appreciate the support of the 
Congress in this action.
            Sincerely,
                                               Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

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