As Congress reacts to Iran attack on U.S. forces, Pelosi says ‘world cannot afford war’

WASHINGTON — Republican and Democratic members of Congress said Tuesday night that they are praying for U.S. forces overseas and that they are monitoring developments following news that Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles at U.S. military forces in Iraq.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., tweeted that the U.S. and the world “cannot afford war.”

“Closely monitoring the situation following bombings targeting U.S. troops in Iraq. We must ensure the safety of our servicemembers, including ending needless provocations from the Administration and demanding that Iran cease its violence. America & world cannot afford war,” she said.

Pelosi was briefed on the attack against the facilities housing U.S. troops by Vice President Mike Pence, according to Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., also received a call from Pence and was briefed at 6:15 p.m., according to a spokesman, who said, “Leader Schumer is closely monitoring the situation & is praying for the safety of our service members & other personnel.”

News of the attack in Iraq came after top congressional leaders were briefed in person Tuesday by administration officials about the U.S. strike that killed top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. The Defense Department said in a statement Tuesday night that an Iraqi military air base housing U.S. troops in Iraq’s Al Anbar province was hit by more than a dozen ballistic missiles from Iran on Wednesday local time.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., was among the so-called “Gang of Eight” that was briefed. He tweeted Tuesday evening, “With reports of missile strikes launched by Iran against U.S. bases in Iraq, my thoughts and prayers are with our service members, diplomats and other personnel at risk, and with their families.”

Speaking at a Brooklyn, N.Y. rally for her presidential campaign, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., told the crowd that “my heart and my prayers are with our military and with our families in Iraq and all around the world.”

“This is a reminder why we need to de-escalate tension in the Middle East,” she said. “The American people do not want a war with Iran.”

Former Vice President Joe Biden, also a Democratic presidential contender, said it was clear that the “chaos” ensuing in the region because Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal.

“Some of the things he’s done and said in the meantime have been close to ludicrous,” Biden said. “Including threatening to bomb holy sites … And I just pray to God as he goes through what’s happening, as we speak, that he’s listening to his military commanders for the first time because so far that has not been the case.”

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., a staunch opponent of U.S. intervention overseas who has for years advocated passing a new war powers resolution, warned that the U.S. should take action to stop further escalation.

“I am praying for the safety of our troops in Iraq tonight. While I would have preferred they come home long ago, there is also no excuse for this action by Iran. We need to stop the escalation before it leads to another endless war in the Middle East,” he tweeted. “In the meantime, the Administration needs to bring any discussion of war with Iran to the American people and their representatives in Congress, as the Constitution requires.”

House Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., told NBC News that he hopes Tuesday’s attack is not a tit for tat between Trump and Iran.

“The president sometimes thinks that he can sort of stand up and kind of be a tough guy and then everybody is going to melt,” Engel said. “Well the enemies of the United States are not melting, they’re not going anywhere. I think it just makes it more and more difficult to try to end a confrontation like this.”

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., tweeted, “Iran’s aggression against the US clearly indicates that they continue to want to do harm to Americans & our nation. I am monitoring the situation tonight & I pray for all the servicewomen & men who are defending our nation.”

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., warned that everyone needs to work to prevent a full-fledged war.

“Closely monitoring reports of Iranian missile attacks on military bases housing U.S. military personnel in Iraq. Praying for the safety of our men and women in harm’s way. All of us need to work to break an escalatory cycle to all-out war.”

This comes a day before Congress is expected to receive briefings Wednesday from top administration officials about the situation in Iran and the U.S. decision to kill Soleimani last week.