Minority Leader Isaacsohn's Statement on War in the Middle East

COLUMBUS — Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) today released the following statement in response to the ongoing military actions by the U.S. and Israel in Iran and the Iranian attacks across the Middle East:

“At least six American servicemembers have been killed and dozens more seriously injured during the recent military engagement against Iranian forces. Those are sons and daughters, and fathers and mothers who will never see their families again. As this war continues, we honor their sacrifices and are praying for their loved ones. Our first thoughts during war must be with the people who bear the brunt of the sacrifices. 

We also owe it to them and every American to have the justifications for this war made clear to the American people. We deserve to know the immediate threats that were posed that the administration believes justify putting the lives of so many Ohioans at risk.

War is not an abstraction. It is felt at kitchen tables across our state. It means missed birthdays, anxious nights, and lives placed in harm’s way. We honor that sacrifice, and we owe those families honesty and leadership worthy of it. War means the deaths of innocent people on all sides. We are keeping our thoughts with all Ohioans who have loved ones living through the horrors of war in countries impacted through the Middle East and pray for their safety. 

We also know that the Constitution is clear: The power to declare war belongs to Congress. When American lives are on the line, there must be transparency, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law. This cannot and should not be a partisan issue, it is foundational to who we are as a country. Ohioans deserve straightforward answers. 

What is the objective of this war? How are we protecting the men and women we send into danger, and what is our exit strategy so we don’t get bogged down in another decades-long, multi-trillion-dollar war?

We expect Ohio’s members of Congress to do their jobs representing our citizens in D.C. by demanding clarity and real oversight of military activities. The American people deserve a plan that is clear, constitutional, and focused on keeping our service members and our country safe.

We will continue to support our troops and their families, and we will continue to call for leadership that treats decisions of war with the seriousness, transparency, and constitutional respect they demand,” said Leader Isaacsohn.