️ The US launched a major military campaign against Iran on Saturday, striking targets across the country as part of Operation Epic Fury, named by the administration of President Donald Trump.
️ The escalation has already resulted in casualties, growing regional tensions, and instability in the region.
️ As the strikes continue, questions arise: Is the United States now effectively at war with Iran? Why did Washington decide to attack? And could the conflict expand to include US ground troops?
️ Here is what is known so far: In Iran, at least 787 people have been killed, according to the Iranian Red Crescent.
️ Six Americans have been killed in action and 18 service members injured, as the US continues its strikes on Iran and Iran counterattacks with missiles and drones against Israel and US assets in the region.
️ US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said a projectile breached air defenses and struck a fortified US military position. He did not disclose the location, but reports indicated casualties occurred in Kuwait.
️ The deadliest single incident in Iran occurred in the southeastern city of Minab, where a strike hit an elementary school for girls, killing at least 165 students.
️ The US Constitution gives Congress the exclusive power to declare war, but the president serves as commander-in-chief with authority to respond to immediate threats.
️ In 1973, Congress passed the War Powers Resolution, which attempts to limit unilateral presidential military action to 60 days.
️ Trump notified Congress of the strikes, telling lawmakers the threat from Iran had become “untenable” despite diplomatic efforts, even though Oman, mediating between the US and Iran, said the parties were close to a deal.
️ Democratic lawmakers have challenged the justification for the strikes and raised concerns about potential violations of the War Powers Resolution.
️ Ultimately, the difference between an “attack” and a “war” often comes down to duration and intensity, said Paul Quirk, a professor of political science at the University of British Columbia.
️ The Trump administration provided several key reasons for the attack: stopping Tehran’s nuclear program and preemptive defense. Trump and Vice President JD Vance explicitly stated that a primary goal is ensuring Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.
️ However, the administration has not provided evidence for the claim that Iran was close to having a nuclear weapon before the US launched its attacks. In fact, the International Atomic Energy Agency said—as recently as yesterday—that it had no evidence Iran even had a nuclear weapons program.
️ Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested the US acted because Israel had been preparing its own military strike on Iran.
Source: www.aljazeera.com