House Rejects Tlaib's War Powers Resolution on Lebanon

The House of Representatives voted against a resolution introduced by Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib to limit President Trump’s authority to engage U.S. military forces in Lebanon without congressional authorization, according to CBS News. The vote on Tuesday ended with 189 voting in favor and 235 opposed.

The resolution, an updated version of a measure that failed earlier this month, would have directed the president to remove U.S. armed forces from any hostilities in Lebanon within seven days of its adoption. It specified that it would not prevent security cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces or the protection of diplomatic facilities. The original measure had called for the removal of all U.S. forces from Lebanon.

Tensions in southern Lebanon have threatened a final peace deal between the U.S. and Iran, with Hezbollah demanding the full withdrawal of Israeli forces as part of any agreement. However, an agreement signed last week between Israel and Lebanon links Israel's removal of forces to Hezbollah’s disarmament, which Hezbollah has refused.

Tlaib argued that the vote was about "immediately ending all U.S. participation in the Israeli government's violent assault against the people of Lebanon," accusing Israel of carrying out an "ethnic cleansing and territory expansion" through its bombing campaign. Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks countered that the resolution would ensure America stays out of another forever war, while Republican Rep. Brian Mast called it a "win for terrorists."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited occupied Lebanese territory on Tuesday, stating that Israel would not withdraw from southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah posed a threat, according to Reuters. This visit came after Israeli and Lebanese governments reached a security agreement mediated by the U.S., under which Israel will hand over two areas to Lebanon's army. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would remain in southern Lebanon until the threat from Hezbollah was removed.

The conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with over 4,000 Lebanese killed and more than a million displaced by Israel’s campaign since March. At least 32 Israeli soldiers and four civilians have been killed by Hezbollah. Netanyahu claimed that the Israeli military had killed around 9,000 militants in Lebanon.