The House has narrowly passed a resolution to halt U.S. military action in Iran, sending a warning to President Donald Trump for the second time as the war has escalated and the future of the conflict is increasingly uncertain. The 214-208 vote requiring congressional approval for the war comes as the Senate is expected to consider a similar resolution later Thursday. Though the votes forced by Democrats are largely symbolic, they're meant as a strong signal to the Republican president his support on Capitol Hill is eroding as the war drags on and lawmakers in both parties question his administration’s endgame. Washington Democratic congresswoman Pramila Jayapal says the war has “no clear mission.”

France has returned 23 Syrian archaeological treasures after they remained in the country for about 15 years. Their return coincided with French President Emmanuel Macron’s landmark visit to Damascus, the first by a major Western leader since the ouster of Bashar Assad in late 2024. The artifacts include Roman bronze objects, Byzantine and Islamic-era pieces, and a richly colored mosaic panel. Syria’s former director-general of antiquities and museums, Maamoun Abdulkarim, said the return closes a chapter that stretched across years of war, diplomatic isolation, and failed attempts to retrieve the collection.