by Donald Eng CTNewsJunkie
“Totally unnecessary,” “a disaster in the making” and “dangerously illegal” were among the reactions from Connecticut’s elected officials to news this morning that American and Israeli forces had carried out a series of strikes against Iran.
Iran later retaliated with ballistic missile attacks against targets in Israel, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, according to reports.
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd, said President Donald Trump was risking the lives of American personnel and the stability of the region without Congressional approval and without any articulated plan.
“President Trump’s decision, along with Israel, to launch direct military action against Iran to achieve regime change is a disaster in the making,” she said. “This is yet another unilateral decision from President Trump, which risks a wider war in the Middle East that the American people do not support. Americans are demanding help with the cost-of-living crisis, but President Trump would rather start another war, potentially driving up energy prices, than listen to them.”
U.S. Rep. Jim Himes Credit: Contributed
Fellow U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th, reiterated that there did not seem to be any long-term objective to the strikes.
“Everything I have heard from the administration before and after these strikes on Iran confirms this is a war of choice with no strategic endgame,” he said. “Military action in this region almost never ends well for the United States, and conflict with Iran can easily spiral and escalate in ways we cannot anticipate.”
He said Trump had failed to learn from history, but indicated that when the war powers resolution came before Congress next week, he would support it.
“In the meantime, I will be praying for the safety of our servicemembers and all civilians who are in harm’s way,” he said.
Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding addresses the media outside the Senate chamber on Feb. 25, 2026 at the State Capitol in Hartford, CT. Credit: Donald Eng
Locally, Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding, R-Brookfield, also said the nation would be praying for service members and their families. He went on to say “we pray for the innocent people of Iran, we pray for Israel, and we pray for a swift and decisive victory which will lead to a safer and more secure world.”
Connecticut’s U.S. senators, both Democrats, also cited the Constitutional process of Congress voting on a war powers act, though neither joined Himes in stating their support for such an act.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal speaks about potentially defunding the Department of Homeland Security at a media briefing Feb. 2 at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, CT. Credit: Donald Eng / CTNewsJunkie
“The Trump Administration seems to be engaging in a war of choice that rejects opportunities for diplomacy,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal. “A nuclear-armed Iran is unacceptable and Iran’s malign activities throughout the region pose a severe danger, but President Trump has failed to explain to the American people his objectives, end game, or exit strategy – risking another forever war.”
Blumenthal said the attack fit a pattern of unilateral action without accountability.
I believe that Congress should come back into session, demand answers on behalf of Americans, and act on the Iran War Powers Resolution,” he said. “My foremost concern is the safety and wellbeing of the men and women in our armed forces and their families who are in harm’s way.”
Blumenthal’s fellow Connecticut senator, Chris Murphy, had the most pointed criticism of Trump’s actions, and of Trump himself, calling the strikes dangerously illegal and a mistake of staggering scale.
US Sen. Chris Murphy shares his thoughts during the rally for Medicaid on the South Lawn of the state Capitol in Hartford on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Credit: Doug Hardy / CTNewsJunkie
“Has he learned nothing from decades of U.S. military disaster in the Middle East?” Murphy wrote in a statement on social media. He added the military action had been totally unnecessary, saying the U.S. had a diplomatic deal with Iran to limit its nuclear program that Trump had canceled in 2018 despite U.S. certification that Iran was complying with it.
“Trump willfully precipitated this crisis,” he said, adding that he also would be praying for the safety of U.S. service personnel.
“They are being led into war by a leader who is out of control,” he said.
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