By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – The US Senate on Friday has voted down a War Powers resolution that sought to limit President Donald Trump’s military action against Iran under Operation Epic Fury, handied the President a significant political victory.
The resolution introduced by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, failed by a vote of 47–53, largely along party lines.
Senate Republicans rallied behind the president, defeating the measure despite continued debate over the United States’ role in the Middle East.
Kaine’s proposal aimed to curb the administration’s authority to conduct military operations against Iran without explicit approval from Congress.
There had been speculation that some Republicans might join Democrats in backing the measure, as has occurred in previous disputes over presidential war powers.
The administration had conducted an intensive lobbying campaign to secure support for Operation Epic Fury, holding several briefings with lawmakers to justify the military action.
Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, voted in favour of the resolution.
Senator Jon Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, broke ranks with his party and supported the Republican position, helped defeat the measure.
Democrats argued that the President’s actions bypassed Congress’s constitutional authority to authorise military force and warned that the administration had yet to present a clear long-term strategy.
They also criticised the White House for refusing to rule out deploying US ground troops to Iran.
“It’s time for the President to keep promises, not break them,” Kaine said ahead of the vote.
Republicans maintained that the President acted within his constitutional authority as commander in chief, defended the strikes as necessary to address security threats posed by Iran.
The polls indicated that 80% of Republicans support the current US use of force, while 80% of Democrats and 60 percent of independents oppose it.
The voters who have served in the military, 59% approve of the US strikes on Iran.
