The US House of Representatives passed a resolution on July 23 directing President Donald Trump to withdraw US forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress authorises the war, the second such rebuke since fighting began.

The 214-208 vote came on the 145th day of a conflict that has cost $37.5bn, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and killed 18 US service members. The Pentagon is seeking an immediate $67bn from Congress after a budget shortfall, while rising fuel prices have made the war a liability for Republicans before November's midterm elections.

Four Republicans joined all Democrats in support: Warren Davidson of Ohio, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Tom Barrett of Michigan and Thomas Massie of Kentucky.

As a concurrent resolution, the measure does not go to the president for signature and lacks the force of law. The House has voted on war powers resolutions five times since the war began, approving one on two occasions.

Democratic congresswoman Pramila Jayapal of Washington, who led the resolution on the floor, said the war had "no clear mission, no strategy, no end goal."

House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Brian Mast accused critics of failing to recognise the sacrifice of US troops killed in the conflict, saying the operation was bringing a "reckoning" for Iranian attacks.

The Senate was due to vote later on July 23 on a separate measure introduced by Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, requiring a simple majority to pass.

Congress approved a war powers resolution in June, when the Senate voted 50-48 with Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski crossing party lines. Trump dismissed that vote as "poorly timed and meaningless."

A Politico poll released on July 22 found a 13-percentage-point drop since May in the share of MAGA voters who consider the war worth its economic costs.

Trump travelled to Dover Air Force Base on July 22 for the return of the remains of four US service members.