US lawmakers call for Congress to rein in Trump's use of military force

WASHINGTON -- Some Democratic and Republican lawmakers on Sunday called on US Congress to rein in President Donald Trump's use of military force in Iran and prevent US involvement in a deepening Middle East conflict.

US Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia said he expects to force the Senate to vote this week on his measure requiring Trump to terminate hostilities against Iran unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war from Congress.

"This is the US jumping into a war of choice at Donald Trump's urging, without any compelling national security interest for the United States to act in this way, particularly without a debate and vote in Congress," Kaine told a CBS program.

Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California said they want a vote on similar legislation they introduced in the House.

"I represent part of the coalition that elected President Trump. We were tired of endless wars," Massie told CBS.

Massie and Kaine each said there was no urgency requiring Trump to act unilaterally.

"There was no imminent threat to the United States," Massie said. "We haven't been briefed."

The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the criticism from lawmakers.

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune were both notified of the US military action ahead of time, according to sources familiar with the matter. Members of Congress are expected to be briefed on Tuesday.

The United States has launched strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, drawing the US military directly into the conflict after days of uncertainty over whether President Donald Trump would intervene.

"Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat," Trump said in a four-minute national address at the White House Saturday night, adding that Iran's nuclear sites are "totally obliterated".

"If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill," he said.

Earlier Saturday, multiple American B-2 bombers were flying west over the Pacific Ocean and they were used in the strike. These bombers are capable of carrying 30,000-pound 'bunker-buster' bombs designed to penetrate fortified underground facilities.

Agencies