US senators slam Joe Biden over Yemen strategy, demand congressional authorization

Republican and Democratic senators in the United States questioned President Joe Biden’s response to Houthi strikes against commercial shipping on Tuesday, arguing that he need to ask Congress for permission to continue taking military action against the Yemen-based militia.

The Houthis, who are affiliated with Iran and govern the majority of Yemen, have been targeted by US strikes almost every day. They have stated that their attacks on shipping are a show of support for the Palestinian people as Israel continues to strike Gaza.

The Houthis’ attacks have disrupted international trade and increased shipping costs, but the strikes have not been able to stop them thus far.

During a congressional hearing with officials from the Pentagon and State Department, Democratic Senator Tim Kaine expressed major concerns about the legal basis the Biden administration was using for the strikes as well as their consequences.

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“Trying to re-establish deterrence, I don’t think you’re going to do it if the 200 strikes become 400 strikes, 800 strikes, 1,200 strikes,” Kaine told the media.

“I think you will re-establish deterrence when we get a hostage deal that leads us to a truce, that leads us to humanitarian aid into Gaza, that leads us to the ability to discuss, whatever that truce period is, can be extended,” he added.

The Pentagon reported on Tuesday that since the strikes began in January, 150 missiles and launchers, as well as radars, locations for storing weapons, and drones, have been destroyed or rendered inferior.

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The Houthis declared on Tuesday that they would only reevaluate their drone and missile assaults on foreign ships in the Red Sea if Israel ceased its “aggression” against the Gaza Strip.

“The Constitution requires Congress to authorize acts of war. … We swore an oath to follow the Constitution. If we believe this is a just military action and I do, then we should authorize it,” Senator Chris Murphy, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Middle East subcommittee.

Murphy, a Democrat, said he would be in talks with his colleagues to introduce such an authorization.

Senator Todd Young, the subcommittee’s senior Republican, said he had doubts about the administration’s strategy.

“It’s imperative that the administration respond to these actions while demonstrating it is both a strategy for deterring aggression and appropriate legal doctrine,” said Young. “To date, I have not seen such a strategy put forward.”

Although the president cannot declare war without the approval of Congress, the White House is authorized by U.S. law to take limited military action abroad.

“To restore and safeguard freedom of navigation,” the European Union has sent a naval mission to the Red Sea.

Operation Prosperity Guardian is a parallel alliance led by the US with the goal of defending economic traffic against Houthi strikes.

During the session, U.S. Special Envoy Tim Lenderking informed the lawmakers that China ought to be “more engaged” in global endeavors aimed at stopping the Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

“We do see a certain amount of freeloading” by China “that is absolutely unacceptable,” he said.

(With agency inputs)