President Trump Leads Retaliatory Airstrikes Against Iran as Senate Rejects Measure to Limit War Authority
The administration announced a new wave of retaliatory airstrikes against Iran on Wednesday, following a collapse in the ceasefire and an Iranian missile attack on a U.S. base in Jordan. President Trump stated that the U.S. would hit Iran hard in retaliation for the country's Revolutionary Guard actions. While the conflict has stretched into its fifth month, the U.S. Senate rejected a symbolic war powers resolution in a 49-50 vote, signaling a lack of consensus on a mandatory withdrawal. Republican senators, including Bill Cassidy and Rand Paul, have shown some flexibility, though many remain supportive of the administration's strategy. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has requested $80 billion in additional defense funding to sustain the war effort. The conflict has caused a significant global energy shock, with Brent crude prices jumping 6.2% to $87.14 per barrel. Despite the rising costs and dwindling munitions, the administration continues to push forward with the goal of preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and curbing its support for militant proxies across the Middle East.