Are U.S. Strikes on Houthis Constitutional?

SINCE JANUARY, THE United States and its allies have been conducting strikes against the Houthis, a Yemen-based Islamist militant organization that has been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea.

These attacks, the Houthis claim, are a gesture of support for Hamas in its war against Israel. There have been no American casualties so far, but the attacks have caused major disruptions for one of the world’s most important shipping routes.

“These attacks have endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardized trade, and threatened freedom of navigation,” President Joe Biden declared in a January 11 statement. “I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary.”