House overwhelmingly rejects Rashida Tlaib resolution on Lebanon war

The House of Representatives rejected a measure from Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., targeting U.S. military involvement in Lebanon. 

Tlaib’s measure failed in a bipartisan vote of 189-225 on Tuesday, with 22 Democrats joining nearly all Republicans against it. 

The resolution would have specifically barred U.S. forces from engaging in “any hostilities” in the country, despite the U.S. military not joining Israel’s war in Lebanon and conducting few operations there. 

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a leading critic of Israel, was among the Republicans who supported the measure.

DEMOCRATS SPLIT OVER TLAIB’S LEBANON MEASURE AS REPUBLICANS SEIZE ON HEZBOLLAH OMISSION

The Squad member’s measure was a concurrent resolution, which is largely symbolic and not sent to President Donald Trump’s desk for a veto if passed.

Tlaib, Congress’ sole Palestinian American, is a fierce opponent of Israel and has accused the Jewish state of pursuing “ethnic cleansing” in Gaza and Lebanon. Her sharp criticism of Israel’s war in Lebanon has spurred GOP attacks that she is providing cover for Iran-backed Hezbollah.

The resolution did not mention the terrorist group, which has been engaged in a military conflict with Israel since early March around the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

Tuesday’s vote came after Tlaib previously forced a vote on a more expansive Lebanon war powers resolution earlier this month that critics argued would have required U.S. military personnel protecting embassy staff to leave the country. Opponents also charged that the measure would have restricted any assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces, which is fighting Hezbollah.

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: TLAIB FORCES RARE HOUSE PROCEDURE AFTER REPUBLICAN ACCUSES HER OF DEFENDING TERRORISTS

Tlaib tailored her second resolution to clarify that it exempted protection of diplomatic personnel and cooperation with Lebanon’s military.

Republicans questioned the timing of the resolution since the U.S. is not at war in Lebanon.

“There are not U.S. combat forces conducting operations or engaged in hostilities in Lebanon,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., said during debate on the House floor. “They are training the Lebanese Armed Forces.

“Why are they training?” Mast continued. “Because there’s probably at least 40,000 — probably more — Hezbollah terrorists spread across the South of Lebanon that are actively engaged in targeting Israel and have been doing so for many years.”

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House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., countered that the resolution would keep the United States “out of another forever war that is not in our national interest.”