After a Secret Briefing in Congress.. Democrats Warn of Trump's Military Intervention in Iran

SadaNews - Democratic lawmakers in the U.S. Senate have warned of the possibility that President Donald Trump may issue orders for a ground invasion or conduct military operations inside Iran, following a secret briefing held yesterday (Tuesday) with senior defense and intelligence officials, which they described as concerning and lacking clarity regarding the war's objectives and strategy.

The briefing featured the participation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Senator Richard Blumenthal expressed that what he heard during the briefing indicated that the country "may be on a path to deploying American forces on the ground in Iran to achieve the objectives presented."

Blumenthal added that he left the meeting with more questions than answers, particularly regarding the cost of the war, the risks faced by soldiers, and the potential for escalation.

He described the briefing as "the most infuriating" in his 15 years in the Senate, stating that he sees no clarity regarding objectives or an exit strategy.

Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren stated that the administration - two weeks into the war - still fails to explain its reasons for entering or its objectives or management methods.

Democratic Senator Jackie Rosen considered what was presented to lawmakers "not only concerning but frightening," adding, "Trump has not provided any vision of what will happen the next day."

Conversely, Republican lawmakers defended the administration's position, with Republican Senator Mike Rounds stating that the information provided is adequate, considering that the future of operations largely depends on civilians within Iran.

Senator Tim Scott also noted that the military has made significant progress, and that the war would end once the Iranian regime's ability to "export terrorism" is eliminated and control of waterways is secured.

This internal debate comes amid Trump's hesitance to rule out ground intervention, as he stated in an interview with the New York Post: "I have no hesitation in sending ground troops."

White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt also mentioned that the president has not ruled out the option of conscription, despite experts questioning the feasibility of resorting to it.

The administration's messages have been contradictory regarding the duration and objectives of the war; Trump announced yesterday that the campaign is almost over, only to later affirm that American forces will not withdraw until the enemy is completely defeated.

The briefing followed a statement from the U.S. Defense Secretary, who confirmed that Tuesday would be the most intense day of airstrikes inside Iran since the war began.

Both the Senate and House of Representatives - controlled by Republicans - rejected resolutions aimed at preventing the president from waging war without congressional authorization.

A Quinnipiac University poll published on Monday showed that 74% of Americans oppose a ground invasion of Iran, including 95% of Democrats, 75% of independents, and 52% of Republicans.

Additionally, 55% of respondents stated that Iran did not pose a direct threat to the United States prior to the U.S.-Israeli attack against it.