[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 515 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 515
Condemning attacks by Iranian military proxies on the Armed Forces of
the United States in Iraq and Syria and emphasizing the urgency of
responding to and deterring such attacks.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 19, 2023
Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Cruz, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Scott of South
Carolina, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Manchin, Mrs. Britt, Ms.
Hassan, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Bennet, Mrs. Blackburn, and Mr. Sullivan)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Condemning attacks by Iranian military proxies on the Armed Forces of
the United States in Iraq and Syria and emphasizing the urgency of
responding to and deterring such attacks.
Whereas, since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the Islamic Republic of Iran and
its proxies have terrorized neighboring countries and fueled regional
instability and violence, including insurgencies and civil wars in
Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen and attacks on Israel and United States
allies in the Persian Gulf;
Whereas the Islamic Republic of Iran, including through the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps, continues to provide financing, training, and
other forms of support to militia groups in Iraq and Syria;
Whereas Iran-controlled militia groups operating in Iraq and Syria include
Kata'ib Hizbullah, Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, Harakat Hizbullah al-Nujaba, and
Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada;
Whereas Iran-backed militia groups frequently target United States Armed Forces
in Iraq and Syria, including through loitering munitions, improvised
explosive devices, rockets, and ballistic missiles;
Whereas, in November 2023, individuals associated with Kata'ib Hizbullah and
Asa'ib Ahl al Haq claimed that such groups were responsible for attacks
on United States Armed Forces, along with Harakat Hizbullah al-Nujaba
and Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada;
Whereas the rate of attacks by Iran-backed militia groups against United States
Armed Forces in the Middle East increased significantly following Hamas'
October 7, 2023, terrorist attack against Israel;
Whereas, since mid-October 2023, Iran-backed militia groups have attacked United
States Armed Forces at least 115 times in Iraq and Syria;
Whereas such attacks have injured more than 60 United States military personnel,
including through shrapnel wounds, perforated eardrums, and traumatic
brain injuries;
Whereas such attacks have damaged the military infrastructure of partner
countries, including barracks housing members of the United States Armed
Forces at Erbil Air Base, and pose an ongoing risk to the security of
personnel, facilities, and citizens of partner countries;
Whereas, on December 8, 2023, Iran-controlled militias attacked the United
States embassy in Baghdad with mortar fire;
Whereas, since the October 7 Hamas attack, the administration of President
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., has moved warships, combat aircraft, air defense
systems, and additional members of the United States Armed Forces to the
Middle East to deter militant groups from widening the conflict;
Whereas United States Armed Forces have carried out a series of strikes in Iraq
and Syria in direct response to attacks or impending attacks by Iran-
backed militia groups against United States and coalition forces,
including--
(1) on December 3, 2023, when United States Armed Forces engaged 5
militants near Kirkuk, Iraq, preparing to launch a one-way attack drone;
(2) on November 22, 2023, when United States Armed Forces conducted
airstrikes against 2 facilities in Iraq;
(3) on November 21, 2023, when a United States AC-130 gunship engaged
individuals responsible for launching a missile attack on United States and
coalition forces at Al Assad Airbase, Iraq;
(4) on November 12, 2023, when United States Armed Forces conducted
airstrikes against facilities associated with the Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps and affiliated groups near the cities of Abu Kamal and Mayadin,
Syria;
(5) on November 8, 2023, when United States Armed Forces conducted
airstrikes on a weapons storage facility in eastern Syria used by the
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and affiliated groups; and
(6) on October 26, 2023, when United States Armed Forces conducted
self-defense strikes on 2 facilities in eastern Syria used by the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps and affiliated groups;
Whereas the United States maintains 900 members of the Armed Forces in Syria and
2,500 members in Iraq to advise and assist local forces to prevent a
resurgence of the Islamic State;
Whereas United States Armed Forces in Iraq also provide support to North
Atlantic Treaty Organization Mission Iraq;
Whereas United States Armed Forces remain present in Iraq at the invitation of
the Government of Iraq;
Whereas Iran-backed Houthi rebels have conducted a series of attacks on
commercial ships traveling through the Red Sea, a vital global trade
route, including--
(1) on December 3, 2023, when ballistic missiles fired by Houthi rebels
struck 3 commercial ships in the Red Sea while a United States warship shot
down 3 drones in self-defense;
(2) on December 13, 2023, when 2 missiles fired from territory held by
Houthi rebels missed a commercial tanker loaded with jet fuel near the Bab
el-Mandab Strait;
(3) on December 14, 2023, when a missile fired from Houthi-controlled
territory missed a container ship in the Bab el-Mandab Strait;
(4) on December 15, 2023, when a ballistic missile fired by Houthi
rebels struck a container ship and caused it to catch fire; and
(5) on December 18, 2023, when Houthi rebels attacked 2 commercial
ships in the Red Sea with naval drones;
Whereas such attacks threaten the safety of ships carrying oil, grain, and other
goods through the Red Sea, many of which include cargo and energy
shipments vital to the United States and partners in Europe and Asia;
Whereas such attacks have forced global shipping companies including MSC,
Maersk, CMA CGM, BP, and others to stop using the Red Sea as a travel
route for shipments; and
Whereas, on December 19, 2023, the United States announced Operation Prosperity
Guardian, an expanded maritime protection force involving certain
countries in the Middle East to combat attacks on vessels traveling
through the Red Sea: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) condemns attacks by Iran-backed militia groups on
members of the United States Armed Forces in Iraq and Syria and
support by Iran for such attacks;
(2) calls on the administration of President Joseph R.
Biden, Jr., to increase pressure on the Islamic Republic of
Iran to stop such attacks and cease support for militia groups
that target members of the United States Armed Forces in Iraq
and Syria;
(3) recognizes that maintaining United States Armed Forces
in Iraq and Syria is critical to securing the national
interests of the United States by maintaining regional
stability and combatting terrorism;
(4) supports the priorities of the Commander of the United
States Central Command to deter the Islamic Republic of Iran,
counter violent extremist organizations, and compete
strategically;
(5) commends the mission focus and resiliency of the United
States Armed Forces in conducting self-defense strikes against
Iran-backed militia groups that pose a threat to United States
Armed Forces and interests in Iraq and Syria;
(6) recognizes the decision of the Biden administration to
increase the presence of United States Armed Forces in the
Middle East to deter Iran-backed militia groups from attacking
members of the United States and undermining the national
interests of the United States; and
(7) urges the Biden administration--
(A) to take steps necessary to deter the Islamic
Republic of Iran from supporting further attacks; and
(B) to declare that further provocations by the
Islamic Republic of Iran will be met with a swift and
decisive response in full coordination with United
States allies and partners to address the threat Iran-
backed militia groups pose to the United States and
allied forces in the Middle East.
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