ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq on Thursday welcomed a vote by the US House of Representatives to repeal the legal justifications for the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 invasion, describing the move as an important step toward strengthening Iraqi sovereignty and reshaping relations with Washington. The House voted 261 to 167 on Wednesday to revoke the Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs) that allowed US presidents to attack Iraq in 1991 and 2003. The measure now heads to the Senate for consideration. If approved, it would require the president’s signature to become law. In the event of a presidential veto, Congress could override it with a two-thirds majority in both chambers. “We welcome the US House of Representatives’ vote to repeal the Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMF) of 1991 and 2002,” the Iraqi Embassy in Washington said in a post on X, adding that the decision “strengthens the principle of sovereignty and opens a new chapter in Iraq–US relations based on mutual respect and shared interests.” “We look forward to its approval soon by the U.S. Senate,” the embassy added. The 1991 AUMF authorized then-President George H. W. Bush to use force in Iraq following Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait. The 2002 AUMF, passed under George W. Bush, became the legal basis for the invasion of Iraq and was later used to justify military operations after Saddam’s fall. Critics have argued for years that leaving the laws in place gives presidents a blank check to continue military interventions. Repealing the measures has been a long-standing demand from Baghdad. Iraqi officials say the authorizations undermine their sovereignty. The Senate passed a similar repeal in 2023 with support from 48 Democrats and 18 Republicans, but the effort stalled in the House. The House vote comes as the two countries negotiate the future of the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS), and Baghdad faces pressure from Iran-backed groups to demand a complete American withdrawal.
