Leading Democrats in the US Congress sharply criticized US President Donald Trump's decision to strike targets in Iran and questioned the legality of the military actions, DPA reported, BTA reported.
"No president should have the right to unilaterally drag this country into something as consequential as war through irresponsible threats and no strategy", said the leader of the Democratic minority in the US Senate, Chuck Schumer.
Republican Trump must be accountable to Congress and the American people, Schumer said. "The risk of a broader, longer and more devastating war has now increased dramatically," he said.
In line with Schumer's statement, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries demanded that the US Congress be immediately informed by the Trump administration.
"President Trump has misled the country about his intentions, failed to seek congressional authorization for the use of military force, and risked drawing Americans into a potentially catastrophic war in the Middle East," Jeffries said. "The risk of war has now increased dramatically," he added.
Schumer also advocated introducing a bill in the US Senate that would limit the US president's ability to order military operations abroad without congressional approval. However, the proposal has no real chance of success, given the Republican majority there, DPA points out.
Former Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi accused Trump of acting illegally. "Tonight, the President disregarded the Constitution by unilaterally engaging our military without the authorization of Congress", Pelosi wrote on the social platform "Ex".
"I join my colleagues in demanding answers from the administration for this operation that endangers American lives and risks further escalation and dangerous destabilization of the region", Pelosi wrote. From his fellow Republicans, who now have a majority in both houses of the US Congress, Trump received much praise and support for the strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, DPA notes.