[Source / Observer Network Xiong Chaoyi] Just as public opinion was focusing on whether the United States would militarily intervene in the current conflict between Israel and Iran, local time on June 21st evening, U.S. President Trump suddenly announced that the U.S. military had carried out strikes on three of Iran's nuclear facilities, shocking the world.
According to a report by the American "Axios News Network" on the same day, although most Republicans in Congress and some pro-Israel Democrats praised Trump for striking Iran's nuclear facilities, there were clearly opposing voices within both parties. The focus of opposition lies in - Trump needs congressional authorization to use force so provocatively, and currently, House Democrats are pushing for a vote to restrict Trump from taking further unilateral actions.
Multiple sources familiar with the discussions disclosed that senior Democratic figures in Congress stated that they were not informed about the U.S. attack on Iran's nuclear facilities earlier that day. Although their Republican colleagues were notified in advance, neither Mark Warner, the senior member of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, nor Jim Himes received briefings before the incident occurred. Chuck Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader (Democrat), only received a notification described by sources as "perfunctory" shortly before Trump made his announcement.
Previously, during his first term in office, Trump was impeached twice. Now, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, AOC), a Democratic representative from New York, has once again raised the possibility of impeaching Trump, citing that this U.S. president attacked Iran without clear congressional authorization.
Photo of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democratic Representative from New York
According to reports, prior to the latest military operation, Ro Khanna, a Democratic representative from California, Thomas Massie, a Republican representative from Kentucky, and Tim Kaine, a Democratic senator from Virginia, had been working to gain bipartisan support in Congress for war powers measures.
After Trump announced the latest military action, Khanna said: "We need to return to Washington immediately to vote on our war powers resolution to prevent the U.S. from being dragged into another endless Middle Eastern war." Kaine then said he would "urge all senators to vote on whether to support this foolish third Middle Eastern war."
As a Republican "liberal" who often disagrees with Trump, Massie also responded to the event on the social media platform X: "This does not conform to the Constitution."
The report states that aside from a few right-wing individuals, there is little interest among the ruling Republicans to directly confront Trump on this issue. This includes Senate Majority Leader (Republican) John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, who publicly expressed support the night Trump announced the strike.
Johnson strongly supported on social media X: "The president made the right decision and fulfilled his duty. The leaders of Congress realized the urgency of the situation, and the commander-in-chief (Trump) assessed that the imminent danger outweighed the time it would take for Congress to act. This largest state sponsor of terrorism must not be allowed to obtain and use nuclear weapons. The president fully respects the power granted to Congress under Article One of the Constitution. The necessary, limited, and targeted strike tonight followed the history and tradition of similar military actions taken by both parties' presidents during their terms."
Among Democrats, the more mainstream view is that Trump's attack was "unconstitutional," including House Intelligence Committee senior member Himes.
Himes said in a statement that this attack "clearly violates the Constitution," and added, "We do not know if this will further escalate the situation in the region or lead to attacks on our troops." He said: "I will continue to closely monitor the situation and request a response from the government."
President Trump delivers a national address on June 21st. AP
American Cable News Network (CNN), "Axios News Network" and other media outlets disclosed that according to multiple informed sources, Trump and his team had maintained contact with Republican leadership in Congress before attacking Iran's nuclear facilities, but Democratic leadership did not learn of his plan until after the bombs were dropped.
According to multiple Republican sources, the two Republican leaders of Congress—Senate Majority Leader Thune and House Speaker Johnson—were notified before the Iranian nuclear facilities were attacked. However, Senate Minority Leader Schumer only received a "perfunctory" notification shortly before Trump announced the news. House Minority Leader (Democrat) Hakeem Jeffries also received notice shortly before Trump announced the news, but after the attack had already occurred.
According to informed sources, House Intelligence Committee Democratic leader Himes did not receive a briefing before the attack, while the committee's Republican chairman Rick Crawford had already contacted the White House. Senior Democrat Warner of the Senate Intelligence Committee did not receive a briefing before the incident either, but the committee's Republican chairman Tom Cotton had received one.
"Axios News Network" reported that just as most Democrats within the party now instinctively avoid mentioning impeachment, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most well-known "progressive" representatives in the House, issued a shocking statement.
"President Trump's catastrophic decision to bomb Iran without authorization severely violates the Constitution and Congress's war powers," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on the social media platform X: "He impulsively risks going to war, which could trap us for generations. This is absolutely an explicit reason for impeachment."
In response to these remarks, a spokesperson for the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In response to "Axios News Network," Ocasio-Cortez's team wrote in an email statement: "Accelerating (impeachment of Trump)." (More soon)
The report suggests that although Ocasio-Cortez's impeachment motion is at the most extreme end of the Democratic reaction spectrum, it reflects the widespread anger among Democrats towards Trump's unilateral actions.
Local time on June 21st evening, U.S. President Trump posted on his self-created social media platform "Truth Social" revealing that the U.S. had attacked three of Iran's nuclear facilities and successfully completed the operation.
He wrote: "We have very successfully attacked three of Iran's nuclear facilities, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. All aircraft are now outside Iranian airspace. Bombs with full yield fell on the main facility, Fordow. All aircraft are safely returning. Congratulations to our great American warriors. No other army in the world can do this. It is time for peace! Thank you for your attention to this matter."
In addition, after posting this message, Trump also retweeted another post on social media, suggesting severe damage to the Fordow nuclear facility. The accompanying text read: "Fordow is gone."
CNN, Reuters, and others subsequently cited U.S. officials' messages, reporting that B-2 bombers participated in the U.S. attack on the three Iranian nuclear facilities mentioned by Trump. According to Fox News, six bunker-buster bombs were dropped during the attack on Iran's Fordow nuclear facility.
Specific locations of the three Iranian nuclear facilities targeted by the strike NBC map
Reuters reported that it is unclear whether Israeli forces participated in the latest attack, which greatly expanded the scope of hostilities in the current Middle East region.
CNN cited Iran's Fars News Agency reporting that residents near Qom Province, located over 100 kilometers south of Tehran, heard several explosions outside the city. It is known that the Fordow nuclear facility is located near Qom, built deep in the mountains.
On the morning of June 22nd local time, Heidari, a spokesperson for the Crisis Management Headquarters of Qom Province in Iran, said that part of the Fordow nuclear facility was hit by air strikes after the province's air defense system identified enemy targets and activated them hours earlier.
The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted an official from Iran's public broadcaster as saying: "There is no radioactive material in these three nuclear facilities." Al Jazeera considered this comment to imply that Iran may have removed enriched uranium from these facilities before they were bombed.
Al Jazeera introduced that the three nuclear facilities targeted by the U.S. this time are of great significance to Iran's nuclear program. Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities are Iran's only two nuclear facilities where uranium enrichment reaches 60%. Isfahan also has a facility used for uranium conversion.
According to a 2022 report by the International Atomic Energy Agency, 90% of Iran's high-enriched uranium is stored at this facility in Isfahan. Currently, Iran has six nuclear facilities, and the three targeted by the U.S. this time are key components of Iran's entire nuclear program.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces announced on social media on June 22nd that based on the current situation, they decided to immediately adjust the instructions of the Home Front Command and upgrade the national alert level starting that day.
The announcement said that following approval by Defense Minister Katz, based on the current situation assessment, the IDF decided to immediately adjust the Home Front Command instructions starting at 3:45 AM local time on June 22nd. The adjustment includes upgrading all regions of the country from "partial restriction" status to "necessary activity" status. The new instructions include: prohibiting educational activities, gatherings, and non-essential industry operations.
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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7518650851347431990/
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