House soundly rejects Tlaib’s Lebanon war powers bill
The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly rejected a war powers resolution on Thursday that would have required President Donald Trump to withdraw US forces from what it described as unauthorized engagements in Lebanon.
The final vote was 324 to 92, with two members voting present. A bipartisan majority of 207 Republicans, 117 Democrats, and Independent Rep. Kevin Kiley of California voted against the measure. The only Republican to break ranks and support it was Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, while Democratic Reps. Betty McCollum of Minnesota and Derek Tran of California voted present.
The resolution, introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, argued that current military deployments lack formal congressional authorization.
On social media Thursday, Tlaib defended her effort using her customary criticism of Israel, writing, “11 children are being killed every day in Lebanon. The indiscriminate bombings must stop. The government of Israel has expanded strikes across the country despite a ceasefire,” while conveniently failing to mention that Hezbollah has repeatedly violated the ceasefire by firing rockets and explosive drones at Israeli civilians and IDF troops.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other senior Democrats opposed the measure, saying in a joint statement that “currently there are no US servicemembers involved in combat operations or hostilities in Lebanon.”
They also said that if action were needed, a separate Tlaib-authored resolution would be a better option. That alternative would also direct the White House to withdraw troops from active combat in Lebanon, while specifying it would not restrict security cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces or protection of diplomatic facilities.
Tlaib has long been a vocal critic of Israel and has continued her criticism during the war with Hamas in Gaza, including calling Israel’s system “apartheid” after the October 7, 2023 attack and accusing the US of funding an “apartheid government.”
