WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, on Friday released a statement following U.S. airstrikes in Syria:

“The strikes by Iranian-backed militias on bases in Iraq hosting U.S. troops are unacceptable, and the president unquestionably has the right to defend our nation and our armed forces from imminent attack. But retaliatory strikes, not necessary to prevent an imminent threat, must fall within the definition of an existing congressional authorization of military force. I have inherent trust in the national security decision making of President Biden, and I know how seriously he takes Congress's war making powers. But Congress should hold this administration to the same standard it did prior administrations, and require clear legal justifications for military action, especially inside theaters like Syria, where Congress has not explicitly authorized any American military action,” said Murphy.

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