Hours after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, targeting its naval and military forces, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Saturday (local time) that before the attacks, Secretary of State Marco Rubio had called all members of the “Gang of Eight” to provide congressional notification, adding that he had managed to reach and brief seven of the eight members. The development comes after concerns were raised whether Trump acted without receiving the required approval from Congress.
House Speaker Mike Johnson also said the “Gang of Eight” was briefed earlier this week about a potential strike on Iran, according to a report in The Independent.
What is Gang of Eight?
The Gang of Eight is a group of Republican and Democratic leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives, usually notified by the White House when a military strike is imminent. According to a report in The Guardian, the select group is briefed on secret intelligence matters that may include preparations for major military action. Rubio briefed the group earlier this week on Feb. 24, hours before Trump delivered his first State of the Union address in his second term. Before 2026, the group was last notified on January 5, the day after Washington launched a successful operation to capture Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro.
Who is in the Gang of Eight?
According to NBC News, the Gang of Eight includes Mike Johnson (R-LA), Speaker of the US House of Representatives; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY); John Thune (R-SD), Senate Majority Leader; Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY); Rick Crawford (R-AR), Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee; Jim Himes (D-CT), ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee; Mark Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee; and Tom Cotton (R-AR), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Statement by the Speaker of the House on Iran
In a post on X, House Speaker Mike Johnson said: “Today, Iran faces serious consequences for its evil actions. President Trump and the administration have made every effort to seek peaceful and diplomatic solutions in response to the Iranian regime’s continued nuclear ambitions and development of terrorism, murdering Americans and even its own people.”
He went on to say that Tehran has defiantly maintained its nuclear program for decades while arming and funding terrorist organizations such as Hamas, Hezbollah and others. Tehran and its proxies threatened US lives, systematically destabilized the Middle East, and threatened the security of the entire West.
US and Israel launch strikes in Iran
On Saturday (local time), the US and Israel launched strikes in Iran in a joint operation targeting Tehran’s military and naval forces. Following the attacks, Tehran retaliated by targeting US bases in the Middle East, plunging the Gulf region into renewed military confrontation. Explosions were reported across Middle Eastern cities, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Manama, Doha and others.
