Jayapal: US-led strikes on Yemen ‘an unacceptable violation’ of Constitution

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) criticized U.S.-led strikes on Yemen on Thursday, saying they were “an unacceptable violation of the Constitution.”

“Article 1 requires that military action be authorized by Congress,” Jayapal added in her post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Other Democrats, including Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), also criticized the strikes. 

“The President needs to come to Congress before launching a strike against the Houthis in Yemen and involving us in another middle east conflict,” Khanna posted on X. “That is Article I of the Constitution. I will stand up for that regardless of whether a Democrat or Republican is in the White House.”

Republican Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) agreed with the Democrats’ constitutional concerns.

“The Constitution matters, regardless of party affiliation,” Lee said in a post.

The U.S. and the U.K. earlier Thursday conducted strikes in Yemen against Houthi rebels with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands, responding to “unprecedented Houthi attacks” in the Red Sea, according to President Biden.

“Today’s defensive action follows this extensive diplomatic campaign and Houthi rebels’ escalating attacks against commercial vessels,” Biden said. “These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most critical commercial routes.”

“I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary,” Biden said.

A Houthi statement on Telegram said “we will not hesitate to respond.”

“We have the capabilities to legitimately defend ourselves. Washington and London should bear the responsibility for militarizing the Red Sea,” the statement continues.