Ed Markey & Elizabeth Warren

In this Oct. 3, 2012 file photo, Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., left, accompanied by then-Democratic Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren, gestures as he speaks with reporters as she campaigned in Medford, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

Both of Massachusetts's U.S. Senators on Saturday praised President Barack Obama's decision to seek congressional approval before using military force in Syria.

U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey, both Democrats, said Obama, also a Democrat, made the right call in delaying any action until a congressional vote.

"I think President Obama is right to seek Congressional approval before taking any military action, and we should engage in a serious debate to determine the appropriate U.S. response to the situation in Syria," Warren said in a statement. "The Assad regime's actions are reprehensible, but it is critical that we recognize the complexity of the conflict on the ground and that we consider the potential for unintended consequences of U.S. intervention, no matter how good our intentions."

Markey, in a statement, said similarly, “President Obama is making the right decision to call for Congressional debate on this difficult question. I have said all along that I think we need a full debate, we need international backing, and we need detailed, complete evidence presented before deciding whether our country should take action in Syria.”

“The use of chemical weapons is a heinous and despicable act that appears to be the work of a brutal dictator who has quashed dissent and killed innocent men, women, and children,” Markey continued. “We must be mindful, however, of the complexities of the situation in Syria. The aftermath of a U.S. strike on targets in Syria is difficult to predict, with negative consequences that may be beyond our capability to control. That's why I am looking forward to a thorough, detailed debate that hears all sides.”

The statements made Saturday are in line with previous statements that Markey and Warren have made on the Syrian situation. Both have urged caution before taking any military action in response to reports that the Syrian military used chemical weapons on its civilian population. Markey told The Republican/MassLive.com last week that he would not support the use of U.S. military troops and would be unlikely to support a no-fly zone, though he would consider using more limited military force.

Warren last week was noncommittal on whether she would consider the use of force, but she said the U.S. must have a plan, a goal and "a reasonable way for achieving that goal" before taking any action.