[House Document 118-103]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




118th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 118-103

 
   LETTER INFORMING CONGRESS OF ACTION TAKEN CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR 
                           POWERS RESOLUTION

                               __________

                             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)




  February 5, 2024.--Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 
                         ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                      Washington, February 4, 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 and have 
placed under grave threat the lives of United States personnel 
and Coalition forces operating alongside United States forces. 
These attacks have continued since my prior report and have now 
expanded to a third country. A recent attack by Iran-affiliated 
militia groups killed three service members and injured 
multiple United States personnel located at the ``Tower 22'' 
base housing United States forces in northeastern Jordan.
    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 affiliated militia groups. In response to 
the continuation of attacks against United States forces since 
my prior report, at my direction, United States forces have 
conducted discrete strikes against facilities in Syria and Iraq 
used by the IRGC and affiliated militia groups for headquarters 
and command and control, weapons storage, training, logistics 
support, and other purposes. The strikes have been taken to 
deter the IRGC and affiliated militia groups from conducting or 
supporting further attacks on United States personnel and 
facilities and have been 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 Syria, Iraq, and Jordan 
conducting military operations pursuant to the 2001 
Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40). 
The strikes are intended to degrade and disrupt the ongoing 
series of attacks against the United States and our partners.
    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 is taking 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. If necessary, I will direct 
additional measures, including against the IRGC and IRGC-
affiliated personnel and facilities, as appropriate, to address 
the series of attacks against United States forces and 
facilities.
    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.