Trump formally notifies Congress that war has resumed with Iran

President Trump has formally notified Congress that fighting has resumed with Iran, confirming in writing that American forces struck targets inside the country on July 7.

The notification came in a letter sent to congressional leaders on Friday and obtained by The New York Times on Monday. In it, the president characterized the operations as "defensive strikes against targets within Iran."

The letter reignites the escalating clash between Capitol Hill and the White House over the president's authority to continue waging war with Iran without congressional sign-off. Both the House and Senate have already voted to direct Trump to either end the war or seek their approval to carry it on.

The White House has not budged, maintaining that the president is acting well within his constitutional authority as commander in chief. The notification suggests the administration intends to press forward with war despite the bipartisan pushback from lawmakers.