[House Document 118-81]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




118th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 118-81

 
  A 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, PUB. LAW 93-148, PURSUANT TO 50 U.S.C. 1543(c); 
              PUBLIC LAW 93-148, SEC. 4(c); (87 STAT. 555)




 November 14, 2023.--Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 
                         ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                     Washington, November 14, 2023.
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 have placed under grave threat the lives of United 
States personnel and Coalition forces operating alongside 
United States forces.
    As I reported on October 27, 2023, and November 10, 2023, 
in response to this series of attacks and continuing threats of 
future attacks, at my direction, United States forces conducted 
targeted strikes against facilities in eastern Syria used by 
the IRGC and IRGC-affiliated groups.
    On the night of November 12, 2023, at my direction, United 
States forces conducted precision strikes against two 
facilities in eastern Syria used by the IRGC and IRGC-
affiliated groups for weapons storage, training, command and 
control, and other purposes. The strikes were taken to reaffirm 
deterrence and were conducted in a manner to limit the risk of 
escalation and avoid civilian casualties. I directed the 
strikes in order to protect and defend our personnel, to 
degrade and disrupt the ongoing series of attacks against the 
United States and our partners, and to deter Iran and Iran-
backed 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. 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.