Lawmakers warn that proposed attacks on foreign infrastructure violate international law and risk sparking an unapproved military escalation.
Power facilities and bridges are among the targets under discussion. That kind of campaign would mark a sharp escalation, and it has already alarmed legal scholars and humanitarian groups. Experts warn that large-scale attacks on systems essential to civilian life may violate international law and the laws of armed conflict. Strategically, the idea is widely viewed as high-risk.
What Happened
Past wars suggest that wrecking a country’s infrastructure seldom produces the military outcome its authors expect. More often it hardens nationalist resistance, rallies domestic support for the targeted regime, and narrows the space for diplomacy later. Analysts fear a show of force could leave the United States facing a more unified adversary.
The Reaction