[House Document 118-101]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



118th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 118-101

 
   LETTER INFORMING CONGRESS OF ACTION TAKEN CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR 
                  POWERS RESOLUTION, PUBLIC LAW 93-148

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  FROM

                     THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              TRANSMITTING

  A LETTER INFORMING CONGRESS OF ACTION TAKEN CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR 
 POWERS RESOLUTION, PURSUANT TO 50 U.S.C. 1543(c); PUBLIC LAW 93-148, 
                       SEC. 4(c); (87 STAT. 556)

                 [GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]


  January 25, 2024.--Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 
                         ordered to be printed
                         
                               __________

                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
                    
49-011                      WASHINGTON : 2024                            
                         
                         
                                           The White House,
                                      Washington, January 25, 2024.
Hon. Mike Johnson,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: As I have reported previously, militia 
groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps 
(IRGC) have perpetrated a series of attacks against United 
States personnel and facilities in Iraq and Syria. These 
attacks, including the recent attack on Al-Asad Air Base by 
Iran-affiliated militia groups, have caused injuries to United 
States personnel and Coalition forces operating alongside 
United States forces and have placed their lives under grave 
threat.
    Previously, in response to these attacks and the threat of 
future attacks, at my direction, United States forces have 
conducted targeted strikes against facilities in Iraq and Syria 
used by the IRGC and IRGC-affiliated groups.
    On the night of January 23, 2024, at my direction, United 
States forces conducted discrete strikes against facilities in 
Iraq used by IRGC-affiliated militia groups for training, 
logistics support, and other purposes. The strikes were taken 
to degrade militias' capabilities and deter future attacks and 
were conducted in a manner designed to limit the risk of 
escalation and avoid civilian casualties. I directed the 
strikes in order to protect and defend our personnel and assets 
who are in Iraq conducting military operations pursuant to the 
2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-
40). The strikes were intended to degrade and disrupt Iran and 
Iran-affiliated militia groups from conducting or supporting 
further attacks on United States personnel and facilities.
    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 as Commander in Chief and Chief 
Executive and to conduct United States foreign relations and in 
accordance with the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military 
Force (Public Law 107-40) and the Authorization for Use of 
Military Force Against Iraq (Public Law 107-243). The United 
States took this necessary and proportionate action consistent 
with international law and in the exercise of the United 
States' inherent right of self-defense as reflected in Article 
51 of the United Nations Charter. The United States stands 
ready to take further action, as necessary and appropriate, to 
address further threats or attacks.
    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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