The US Constitution limits a president's war-making powers. A subsequent law passed in 1973, dubbed the War Powers Act, further codified that presidents must cease military action after 60 days, or receive congressional authorization to legally continue.
"I'm struggling a lot. I'm really scared for my situation, for my son's situation as well. I'm just very desperate to get out of here." Hoda Muthana, one of three American women in the camp, highlights the dire conditions and her fears.
Pharmacists have noted a spike in the price of medicines and contraceptives like condoms, as a result of the war. In the United Kingdom, pharmacies are charging 20 to 30 percent more for over-the-counter medicines, and the common painkiller paracetamol has more than quadrupled in price.
Due to clashes between Syrian interim government forces and the Syrian Kurdish militias that controlled much of the northeast, the prisons and detention camps holding "Islamic State," or IS, members changed hands. In the ensuing chaos, some IS members and their relatives escaped from detention camps. Others were moved to Iraqi prisons. Between January 21 and February 12, the US military helped transport more than 5,700 prisoners out of Syria.
The Houthis, a Zaydi Shiite Islamist rebel group, which the U.S. has designated as a foreign terrorist organization, are among Iran's most powerful and resilient allies. They are a key part of the so-called Axis of Resistance, an informal Iran-led military coalition in the Middle East. During his speech, al-Houthi suggested that the Houthis were ready to lend military support to Iran: 'We are fully prepared for any necessary developments,' he said.