[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 209 (Tuesday, December 19, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6058-S6059]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

 SENATE RESOLUTION 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

  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.:

                              S. Res. 515

       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

[[Page S6059]]

     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.

                          ____________________