WASHINGTON: US Senate Republicans backed President Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran on Wednesday, voting to block a bipartisan resolution aiming to stop the air war and require that any hostilities against Iran be authorized by Congress. As voting continued, the tally in the 100-member Senate was 52 to 47 not to advance the resolution, largely along party lines, with almost every Republican voting against the procedural motion and almost every Democrat supporting it.

The measure, which is not expected to pass, would require the withdrawal of military force within and against Iran until approved by Congress.

War powers vote broke along party lines with almost all Democrats in support and most Republicans opposed