Global Conflicts, Political Turmoil, and Human Rights: Key News Headlines May 15, 2026

The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday narrowly rejected a bipartisan war powers resolution aimed at ending President Donald Trump’s military operations against Iran, with the vote tied at 212-212. The failed measure would have required Trump to withdraw American forces from hostilities in Iran unless explicitly authorized by Congress, marking the seventh attempt by Democrats to curb his executive authority in the escalating conflict.

The rejection underscores the deep political divisions over Trump’s Iran policy, which began on February 28 after a series of strikes attributed to both Iranian, and U.S. Forces. While the resolution lacked the necessary majority to pass, it reflected growing unease among lawmakers—including some Republicans—about the lack of clear congressional authorization for the military actions. The Senate had previously blocked six similar attempts, with only three GOP senators joining Democrats in support of the latest measure.

Senate Republicans, including Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, broke ranks in recent votes, citing concerns over the administration’s transparency and the 60-day threshold under the War Powers Resolution of 1973. Murkowski, who had opposed earlier resolutions, told reporters she now believed it was “time to discuss our responsibilities” under the law, though the measure still fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance.

Meanwhile, Trump’s administration has faced mounting international criticism over the Iran operations. Iran’s Foreign Minister, in a statement to BRICS nations, accused the U.S. Of “bullying” and called for unified opposition to what he described as unilateral military actions. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has denied allegations of civilian casualties in Iran, with a spokesperson stating, “No way that we can corroborate that.” However, the lack of independent verification has fueled skepticism among lawmakers and human rights groups.

The House vote came as Trump concluded a summit in China, where no agreements were reached on Iran, Taiwan, or the Strait of Hormuz, further isolating the U.S. Diplomatically. The failure of the war powers resolution leaves Trump’s Iran policy unfettered by congressional oversight, raising questions about whether the conflict will continue unchecked.

Democrats, led by Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, have framed the resolutions as necessary to prevent an unchecked expansion of executive war powers. Merkley’s measure would have required Trump to either seek explicit congressional approval or withdraw forces within 30 days. The tie vote in the House suggests even moderate Republicans remain hesitant to challenge Trump publicly, despite the growing humanitarian and geopolitical risks.

As the conflict drags on, the U.S. Faces parallel challenges in the Middle East, including a fuel blockade on Cuba that has left the island’s oil reserves critically low, and escalating violence in Gaza, where UNICEF reported that Israeli attacks had killed or wounded 59 children in a single week despite a fragile ceasefire deal. The rejection of the war powers resolution adds another layer of tension to an already volatile region.

For now, the focus remains on the White House, where Trump has shown no signs of scaling back operations in Iran. The next test for Congress will likely come in the coming weeks, as lawmakers grapple with whether to pursue additional measures—or accept the status quo.