Virginia LULAC Condemns the President’s Orders of Military Actions Against Iran (February 27–28, 2026)
- Virginia LULAC
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
March 3, 2026
Virginia LULAC, the state chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, the nations Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Advocacy Organization condemns the actions of this sitting President in 2026 for his orders for use of U.S. military assets in Iran on February 27–28, 2026. What began with U.S. and allied strikes against Iranian targets has rapidly escalated into one of the most serious confrontations between major powers in recent history.
On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched a major coordinated military offensive against the Islamic Republic of Iran, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions that had been building for months. The operation — known in U.S. defense circles as Operation Epic Fury and referred to by the Israeli government as Operation Lion’s Roar — involved extensive air and missile strikes on dozens of Iranian military, nuclear, and infrastructure targets across at least 14 cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah. The strikes aimed to degrade Iran’s missile and nuclear capabilities, target command-and-control facilities, and eliminate senior regime leadership; reports indicate that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other high-ranking officials were killed in the attack, which also resulted in both military and civilian casualties. In response, Iran launched retaliatory ballistic missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory and U.S. military bases in multiple Gulf states, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. The offensive has disrupted international airspace, triggered global condemnation from some governments, and raised serious concerns about a wider regional war with unpredictable consequences. (Takeyh et al., Gauging the impact of massive u.s.-israeli strikes on Iran 2026 https://www.cfr.org/articles/gauging-the-impact-of-massive-u-s-israeli-strikes-on-iran)
The joint U.S.–Israel military offensive that began on February 28, 2026 rapidly transitioned from a series of targeted strikes into what many international observers described as an unprovoked and unprecedented political assassination campaign, with the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, confirmed by Iranian state media after the attacks. The strikes, part of the broader Operation Epic Fury/Operation Lion’s Roar campaign, targeted senior Iranian leadership and military infrastructure in Tehran and other cities, eliminating key commanders and officials in a coordinated decapitation strike that involved strategic intelligence support and precise missile and air bombardment. Iran announced a period of national mourning and vowed retaliation, framing the killing of its highest political figure as a blatant act of aggression and murder that has further inflamed regional tensions. What began as a military operation quickly became a defining political act with profound consequences: not only did it remove the central figure of Iran’s government, but it also shattered diplomatic norms, escalated the conflict into a broader war with ongoing missile and drone retaliation across the Middle East, and sparked protests and calls for revenge both within Iran and around the world.
The administration’s decision to employ military force, with the stated aim of dismantling Iran’s strategic capabilities, has resulted in significant regional instability, loss of life, and the potential for prolonged conflict and dangers for our military members and American Citizens at home. This includes retaliatory strikes by Iran and its affiliates on U.S. and allied forces across the Middle East and beyond as well furthers risk to civilians and military personnel.
Virginia LULAC unequivocally rejects the notion that war is an acceptable first option when diplomacy has not been exhausted. We believe that the threshold for U.S. military engagement must be measured against our nation’s constitutional obligations, including respect for international law and the requirement for congressional authorization. Unilateral military action of this scale, especially when it imposes heightened risk on service-members and their families, is deeply troubling and contrary to the values Virginia LULAC stands for.
We are particularly alarmed by reports that senior leadership in Iran, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was killed during these strikes. Assassination as a tool of foreign policy sets a dangerous precedent with unpredictable consequences for global stability.
The unfolding conflict has already led to military casualties, damage to U.S. and allied equipment, and the launch of missiles and drones across multiple countries in the region. Iran’s retaliatory actions — including attacks in the Gulf states — demonstrate how rapidly localized force can spiral into wider war, potentially drawing in nations far beyond the Middle East.
We must write to protect our mothers, we must write to protect our fathers, we must write to protect our brothers and sisters, and we must write to protect our children. We must write because we have to. When talk falls silent, we must speak up. We are appalled by the rhetoric of the president and his supporters that has accompanied this conflict. We stand for justice, we stand for peace, and we stand for our military members.
This administration has demonstrated that it does not prioritize the safety and well-being of our veterans or their families. It has shown a willingness to sacrifice and kill American service-members to advance a geopolitical agenda that elevates political spectacle over prudent governance. The United States Constitution empowers Congress, not a single individual, to authorize war, yet this administration proceeded into military engagement with minimal legislative oversight and scant public justification.
But don’t hear it from us, look at this quote from President Trump himself, “The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war. But we’re doing this not for now.” This statement alone is a testament to this administrations lack of sympathy and empathy for our service-members. They have no intent on taking any step to minimize risk to U.S. personnel and they don’t care what happens to them. This is our evidence this is what we needed and we need to make this come to light. (Associated Press, Read president Trump’s complete statement on Iran 2026 https://www.wkrn.com/news/national/read-president-trumps-complete-statement-on-iran/)
Our service members swore an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States, not to serve as instruments of reckless geopolitical escalation. The Constitution clearly empowers Congress, not the executive branch alone, to authorize acts of war. Yet this administration moved forward with large-scale military engagement without meaningful congressional debate or transparent public justification.
Putting our service-members at risk is not the answer to this conflict. No American or military lives should have been lost due to retaliatory strikes from Iran. The U.S. unprovoked assault on the Iranian leader resulting in his assassination should never have occurred at the risk of American soldiers and American Assets. We vehemently reject the disregard for our military members and their families. We reject the administrations excuses in drawing us into creating this conflict. And we reject using our military to attack for war rather than defend.
We reject the dangerous framing that war should be embarked upon as a matter of expedience. The consequences are already unfolding: a wider regional crisis, retaliatory strikes across the Gulf, and an ongoing disruption in one of the world’s most critical maritime passages, the Strait of Hormuz, with implications for global energy markets and civilian safety.
Virginia LULAC stands in unwavering support of the lives of our service-members who deserve honor, protection, and genuine leadership, not needless endangerment. We reaffirm our commitment to diplomatic solutions that:
Virginia LULAC calls for:
An immediate ceasefire and de-escalation of hostilities.
The safeguarding of human life and the protection of civilians.
Strict adherence to international law and respect for national sovereignty.
The prioritization of the safety of American service members and their families.
Congress to reaffirm its constitutional authority over declarations of war.
Transparent and inclusive diplomacy with Iran and international partners.
Full accountability and support for veterans, active-duty personnel, and military families.
Virginia LULAC remains committed to peace, human rights, and the protection of all families affected by international conflict.
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About Virginia LULAC
Virginia LULAC is the state chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation’s oldest and largest Latino civil rights advocacy organization. Our mission is to advance the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, housing, and civil rights of Hispanic Americans in the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond.
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