Top updates: US will ‘bitterly regret’ sinking Iranian warship, says Tehran

The United States Senate on Wednesday rejected a resolution meant to halt the country’s military strikes on Iran and ending its involvement in the conflict in West Asia, USA Today reported.

The bipartisan resolution, introduced by Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Rand Paul, would have required the withdrawal of US forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress authorised the campaign, AFP reported.

The resolution, however, failed on a 47-53 vote in the Upper Chamber of Congress. Apart from Paul, Republicans voted to back US President Donald Trump’s decision to attack Iran alongside Israel.

The vote came amid a rapidly expanding conflict that began on Saturday when Israel and the US launched a joint military operation targeting the Iranian government, triggering a retaliation by Tehran.

Here’s more on this and other top updates from the conflict in West Asia:

• Among US lawmakers, Democrats argue that Trump unconstitutionally bypassed Congress when he ordered the strikes in Iran, adding that the administration has offered shifting justifications for the war, AFP reported. Republicans, however, have largely rallied behind the president. However, some have signalled that their support could wane if the war expands or drags on.
• The toll after a US submarine sunk Iranian warship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean has increased to 87, AFP quoted unidentified Sri Lankan defence and police officers as saying. Sixty-one are...

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