Senate Republicans have blocked legislation intended to limit President Trump's powers in the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran. The war powers resolution, which required congressional approval for further attacks, failed on a 47-53 vote. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated the conflict could extend beyond initial projections. He stated that while significant defensive measures have been implemented to protect US forces and allies in the Middle East, some Iranian attacks may still succeed.
Despite President Trump's positive assessment of the war's progress, concerns persist regarding the lack of a clear exit strategy. Aerial attacks have continued for six days. Iran launched missiles at Israel early Thursday, following a US submarine incident that sunk an Iranian warship in international waters off Sri Lanka's coast. The Israeli military also announced new strikes against Hezbollah in Beirut's suburbs, with air sirens sounding across Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
The conflict, which began with a surprise attack by the US and Israel on Iran last Saturday, escalated further on Wednesday. Iran has reportedly launched strikes across Gulf states, including Kuwait and Bahrain, amidst threats from Tehran to the region's infrastructure. Over 1,000 people are reported killed in Iran, with dozens more in Lebanon and Israel. The conflict has significantly disrupted global oil and gas supplies, international shipping, and air travel across the Middle East.