CIA Director Ratcliffe Briefs Congress on Iran Military Operations and War Powers Authority

CIA Director John Ratcliffe joined top U.S. national security officials for classified briefings on Capitol Hill today. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Ratcliffe, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine addressed both the Senate at 2030 Greenwich Mean Time and the House at 2200 Greenwich Mean Time. According to DWS News, the sessions covered U.S. military operations and strategy against Iran amid debates over legal authority for ongoing strikes and possible war powers resolutions. Republicans defend the actions as essential to protect U.S. and allied forces, while Democrats demand greater oversight. House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Jim Himes and other Democrats sent a letter to the briefers today, seeking direct answers on why the conflict began, objectives for continued engagement, and safeguards against a broader regional war, as reported by the House Democrats Intelligence Committee site. The briefings follow Operation Epic Fury, a U.S.-Israeli joint strike that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military leaders. CBS Austin reports U.S. Central Command struck over 1250 targets, destroying Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps facilities, air defenses, missile sites, and airfields. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks, killing six U.S. service members and at least 787 people per the Iranian Red Crescent. Earlier, House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed satisfaction with a closed-door briefing from Ratcliffe, per ABC News. Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker indicated lawmakers may consider supplemental funding for munitions amid concerns over strained stockpiles of Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems, Politico reports. Democrats like Senator Richard Blumenthal warn of potential shortages vital for protecting U.S. assets. Ratcliffe directs intelligence operations, ensuring threat assessments guide decisions in the campaign to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons by dismantling its missile, drone, and naval capabilities, as noted by The Palestine Chronicle. Thank you for tuning in, listeners. Please subscribe for more updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. For more http://www.quietplease.ai Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.