Saturday morning’s joint airstrikes by the United States and Israel on key outposts and civilian areas in Iran have ignited retaliatory strikes spanning the Middle East, drawing strong reactions from American politicians and religious leaders alike.
The bombings—part of a rapidly widening conflict between the Islamic regime in Iran and a coalition of Western and Arab powers—have damaged military and civilian sites in at least nine countries. More than 200 are presumed dead and more than 700 injured as of Saturday afternoon, with the fatalities including some 85 dead at a girls’ school in southern Iran.
President Donald Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed full responsibility for the strikes on Iran, the culmination of months of buildup stretching back to a separate U.S. airstrike on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, part of the Twelve-Day War.
The two Western powers, which openly seek regime change in Iran with the planned overthrow of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have claimed for more than three decades that Iran is within years of producing a nuclear weapon, allegedly justifying the need for preemptive action. A recent spate of crackdowns and massacres of protestors by the Islamic republic have intensified the prelude to outside military intervention.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 28, 2026
A cadre of opposition figures in the United States have condemned as illegal the joint airstrikes, which occurred without the authorization of Congress, the only U.S. body with the power to declare war. Restrictive war powers resolutions were introduced in both the House and the Senate in recent weeks, but were not brought to the floor for a vote by Democratic leaders before a planned recess beginning Wednesday and lasting through the weekend.
Following Saturday’s outbreak of violence, with the United States’ Operation Epic Fury and Israel’s Operation Roaring Lion, several federal lawmakers openly condemned the initial joint airstrikes, calling them an unconstitutional entry into prolonged conflict not supported by the American people.
“Donald Trump’s illegal strikes on Iran will drag America and our allies into an endless war, putting innocent lives at risk,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat of New York, a Black Catholic who chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and has called for an “immediate” convening of Congress to address the Middle Eastern crisis.
“This administration needs to stop treating our Constitution like an inconvenience.”
Donald Trump’s illegal strikes on Iran will drag America and our allies into an endless war, putting innocent lives at risk. This administration needs to stop treating our Constitution like an inconvenience.
— Adriano Espaillat (@RepEspaillat) February 28, 2026
Under article I, sec. 8, Congress has the sole power to declare war.…
Similar comments were shared by Espaillat’s fellow Black Catholic in the House, Rep. Gabe Amo of Rhode Island, who referred to the conflict as a “war of choice” initiated by President Trump without proper explanation.
“Trump has started another war without clearly defining its scope, timeline, or objectives and without presenting a credible day-after plan,” said Amo, who serves as vice ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“The world is less safe because of this action, and the instability it causes will have long-lasting effects.”
Catholic leaders in the Arab world have also spoken on the strikes, including calling for safety measures from local clergy amid ongoing threats of further airstrikes. No U.S. prelates, including Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Military Services, have yet commented publicly on the escalating conflict.
“I appeal to all of you… to remain calm and serene, while at the same time carefully follow all the instructions given by our civil authorities,” said Bishop Paolo Martinelli, OFM Cap., the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, in an emergency letter to local Catholics on Saturday.
“Most of all it is a time for all of us to remain united in prayer for peace. I invite you all to pray the rosary every day for peace and reconciliation. During all Holy Masses, let us pray for peace and security of all people in this region.”
Bishop Aldo Berardi, Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia, echoed calls for prayer and noted that public liturgical activities have been suspended in his jurisdiction, which includes targeted areas of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
“Please carefully follow the instructions of civil authorities,” he said, “and adopt all necessary precautions in your homes, workplaces and parishes.”
As of Saturday afternoon, the United States and Israel have received diplomatic support for their operation in Iran from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ukraine, India, and a host of Arab nations. The strikes have been condemned by Russia, China, Oman, and the United Nations, among others.
Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger.
