Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth To Lead Capitol Hill Briefing On Iran Operation - indica News

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President Donald Trump’s top national security officials are set to face lawmakers this week as questions grow over the scope and legality of recent U.S.-led military strikes against Iran.

Senior members of the administration will brief the full House and Senate on Tuesday, March 3.

Those leading the sessions include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The White House said the briefings are meant to update lawmakers on the military action and its objectives.

The administration has already begun outreach on Capitol Hill. The Pentagon recently briefed bipartisan staff from several national security committees in both chambers for more than 90 minutes. Officials described the discussions as detailed and focused on the military campaign in Iran.

The strikes have triggered sharp reactions in Congress. Republican leaders have largely backed the president’s decision, arguing that Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its support for militant groups presented a serious and unacceptable threat to U.S. interests and allies.

Democratic leaders, however, have criticized the operation, saying the president did not seek congressional authorization before launching a large-scale military action. They have also raised concerns that the strikes could put American troops at greater risk of retaliation.

While the White House has not shared many operational details, major U.S. newspapers have reported new information about the campaign. The New York Times reported that Israeli and U.S. intelligence officials used sensitive information to carry out a three-wave attack that heavily damaged Iran’s military leadership and air defenses. According to the report, Israeli officials claimed they achieved air superiority, allowing jets to operate freely over Tehran.

The same report said U.S. forces targeted parts of Iran’s naval fleet. President Trump later stated that nine Iranian naval ships had been destroyed and that more operations were underway.

The Washington Post, citing U.S. Central Command, reported that the strikes focused on military targets and aimed to weaken Iran’s security structure. A Western security official told the newspaper that attacks on the headquarters of Iran’s intelligence service killed at least four senior commanders.

Meanwhile, Iran responded with retaliatory strikes. The Wall Street Journal reported that Iranian forces targeted airports and critical infrastructure in Gulf states. More than 3,400 flights were canceled across seven airports in the Middle East. Dubai International Airport temporarily suspended flights after a drone strike, according to the report.

The situation has also renewed debate over presidential war powers. Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the authority to declare war. However, presidents have often relied on their role as commander-in-chief to carry out limited military operations without a formal declaration.

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