IRNA – Following the overnight attack by the US and its two European allies on Syria, American lawmakers highlighted the action's illegal nature and warned on the repercussions.


The US in cooperation with France and Britain launched a series of attacks on three targets in Syria.

Washington claims that it was a response to an alleged chemical weapon attack near Damascus. The US blames the attack on the government of Syria.

Immediately after the attacks, Senator Bernie Sanders wrote on his twitter, 'It is Congress, not the president, which has the constitutional responsibility for making war. The international community must uphold the prohibition against the use of chemical weapons, but it is unclear how Trump's illegal and unauthorized strikes on Syria achieve that goal.'

Senator Tim Kaine, too, described the act as illegal under the US laws.

'Trump’s decision to launch airstrikes against Syria without Congress’s approval is illegal. We need to stop giving presidents a blank check to wage war,' he said on Twitter.

Elizabeth Warren, the Democrat US Senator, said on Twitter that the strike was against the US Constitution.

'The Constitution gives Congress the power to authorize military action. If @realDonaldTrump wants to expand American military involvement in Syria's civil war, he must seek approval from Congress – & provide a comprehensive strategy with clear goals & a plan to achieve them.'

Implicitly criticizing France and Britain for accompanying the US in striking Syria, Thomas Massie wrote on Twitter, 'I haven’t read France’s or Britain’s “Constitution,” but I’ve read ours and nowhere in it is Presidential authority to strike Syria.'

Senator Chuck Schumer, New York, warned on his twitter page, 'The administration has to be careful about not getting us into a greater and more involved war in Syria.'

According to the US Constitution, the president as the Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces has the power to protect and defend the United States. But according to the same Constitution, for any military action, he or she should seek the congressional authorisation.