Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2021

February 27, 2021

Dear Madam Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

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 93â148). I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action.

Sincerely,

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

NOTE: Identical letters were sent to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Patrick J. Leahy, President pro tempore of the Senate. An original was not available for verification of the content of this letter.

Categories: Communications to Congress : Syria, U.S. military operations, letter.

Subjects: Armed Forces, U.S. : Servicemembers :: Casualties; Iran : Terrorism, sponsorship; Iraq

: Rocket attacks in Erbil; Syria : U.S. and coalition airstrikes.

DCPD Number: DCPD202100177.

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