Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) is seeking information regarding how the nation’s military plans to counter Syria’s future use of chemical weapons.
Ernst, who chairs the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities for the Senate Armed Services Committee, recently forwarded correspondence to Secretary of Defense James Mattis along those lines.
“Like yourself, I find President Bashar al-Assad’s use of chemical weapons, especially against his own civilian population, to be abhorrent and a violation of international law,” Ernst wrote. “I respectfully request additional communication by the Department of Defense (DoD) regarding its decision-making and congressional notification process when considering military action outside of an existing Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF).”
Last year, the United States conducted targeted missile strikes against the Syrian government following the use of chemical weapons by the regime, officials said. In April, the United States, along with France and the United Kingdom, struck Syrian government facilities in response to their use of chemical weapons.
“I am increasingly concerned about U.S. military action not authorized by the 2001 and 2003 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) or the War Powers Resolution,” Ernst wrote.
America’s military leadership has signaled to Assad there would be consequences, including potential military action, should Syria continue the use chemical weapons, officials said, including a statement from Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joseph Dunford, referencing the DoD has prepared military options should Syria use chemical weapons.