Based on a report from Breitbart, the Pentagon refutes claims that the United States is in a state of war with Yemen’s Houthi force. This denial comes despite President Joe Biden officially notifying the House of Representatives about military actions.
In a press briefing, a reporter queried Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh about whether a recent series of US military strikes targeting the Iran-backed terrorist group in Yemen indicated a state of war between the two entities.
Singh not only asserted that the United States was not engaged in a war but also emphasized that a definitive declaration from the government would be necessary to establish such a condition.
As per the media outlet’s coverage, notwithstanding these statements, President Biden has officially presented two notifications to Congress under the War Powers Resolution. This legislation outlines the reporting obligations of the commander-in-chief when deploying US armed forces into hostilities in the absence of a formal declaration of war.
The resolution mandates the commander-in-chief to formally submit a report, notifying the House of Representatives within two days of deploying the US military in armed conflicts, providing justification for the necessity of such actions.
The resolution additionally necessitates the president to furnish an approximate assessment of the extent and duration of military engagement in the conflict. Furthermore, it mandates an explanation of the legislative and constitutional authorities supporting the decision to undertake such actions.
On January 22, President Biden informed Congress following a joint military operation by the UK and the US against terrorists in Yemen. This action was taken in retaliation for the Houthis’ assaults on commercial and US vessels in the Red Sea. The president thinks that shooting missiles at the Houthis won’t stop them from assaulting ships, but the Biden administration has launched airstrikes against them. At a press conference, President Biden did state that the US will “continue” to launch missile strikes.
Different reports state that the Pentagon has termed the ongoing operation “Poseidon Archer,” which includes the strikes against the terrorist group. It is unclear whether this would lead to full-scale combat.
