US lawmakers reject bid to block Trump's Iran strikes

The Republican-led House narrowly rejected a Democratic push Thursday to block President Donald Trump from ordering further strikes on Iran, a day after the Senate turned back a similar measure seeking to rein in the president as the unpopular war approaches the two-month mark.

The House war powers resolution, which failed in a tight vote of 213-214, was largely symbolic, as it faced little chance of overcoming an expected presidential veto even if it had passed.

Most Republicans opposed the resolution in both chambers, though some lawmakers have signalled they could reconsider their position if the war extended beyond this month. Trump has offered shifting timelines on the duration of the conflict, most recently saying the war was "close to over."

In the House vote on Thursday, Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky was the only Republican to side

with Democrats in

support of the measure, while Jared Golden of Maine was the lone Democrat to oppose it.

Warren Davidson of Ohio, who previously supported Democrats' effort in March, voted present, a form of abstention.

Democrat Gregory Meeks, of New York, who introduced the resolution, told reporters after the vote that he would lobby Golden and others to support the legislation.

Meeks also indicated he would introduce another war powers resolution, continuing Democratic efforts to reassert congressional authority over military action.