Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2023

March 25, 2023

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Madam President:)

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. On March 23, 2023, a one-way unmanned aerial system attack tragically killed one American contractor supporting the United States military, and wounded six others, including five United States service members. The March 23 attack followed a number of prior attacks against United States forces in Syria. These attacks have placed the lives of United States and Coalition personnel under ongoing threat.

At my direction, on March 23, 2023, United States forces conducted targeted strikes against facilities in eastern Syria in response to this series of attacks and continuing threats of future attacks. The precision strikes were directed at facilities used by groups affiliated with the IRGC for command and control, munitions storage, and other purposes. They were conducted in a manner intended to establish deterrence, limit the risk of escalation, and avoid civilian casualties. I directed the March 23 strikes in order to protect and defend the safety of our personnel, to degrade and disrupt the ongoing series of attacks against the United States and our partners, and to deter the Islamic Republic of 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 93â148). Additional information is provided in a classified annex. I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action.

Sincerely,

Joseph R. Biden Jr.

NOTE: Identical letters were sent to Kevin O. McCarthy, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Patricia L. Murray, President pro tempore of the Senate. The letter referred to Scott P. Dubis, a computer system operator working for U.S. contractor PKMM, who was killed in an Iranian-linked drone strike targeting a coalition base in Northeast Syria on March 23. An original was not available for verification of the content of this letter.

Categories: Communications to Congress : Syria, U.S. military operations, letter. Names: Dubis, Scott P.

Subjects: Iran, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; Iran, terrorism sponsorship; Iraq, rocket attacks against U.S. personnel and facilities; Syria, U.S. and coalition airstrikes; Syria, unmanned aerial system attacks against U.S. personnel; U.S. servicemembers, casualties.

DCPD Number: DCPD202300232.