Democrats in the House and Senate urged restraint from the Trump administration after reports late Thursday indicated that President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE had approved a military strike on Iranian forces before calling it off at the last moment.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenHillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns On The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline Democratic senators ask inspector general to investigate IRS use of location tracking service MORE (D-Mass.) issued a statement Thursday following the revelations of the called-off strike, saying that there “is no justification for further escalating” tensions with Iran.

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"Donald Trump promised to bring our troops home. Instead he has pulled out of a deal that was working and instigated another unnecessary conflict. There is no justification for further escalating this crisis—we need to step back from the brink of war," added Warren, a 2020 presidential contender.

Donald Trump promised to bring our troops home. Instead he has pulled out of a deal that was working and instigated another unnecessary conflict. There is no justification for further escalating this crisis—we need to step back from the brink of war. https://t.co/roUHtzRlE8 — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) June 20, 2019

Other Democrats joined Warren in sounding off on social media after the reported last-minute cancellation of the attack, saying the administration should go to Congress and plead a case for a formal declaration of war rather than use the Bush-era authorization for use of military force.

"Only Congress can authorize a war. We should vote next week," wrote Sen. Brian Schatz Brian Emanuel SchatzCDC causes new storm by pulling coronavirus guidance Overnight Health Care: CDC pulls revised guidance on coronavirus | Government watchdog finds supply shortages are harming US response | As virus pummels US, Europe sees its own spike Video of Lindsey Graham arguing against nominating a Supreme Court justice in an election year goes viral MORE (D-Hawaii).

Only Congress can authorize a war. We should vote next week. — Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) June 20, 2019

"Deeply concerned that @realDonaldTrump has no idea what he is doing, especially in foreign policy," wrote Rep. Ted Lieu Ted W. LieuThe spin on Woodward's tapes reveals the hypocrisy of Democrats Larry Kudlow defends response to coronavirus: Trump 'led wisely' Lieu on Trump 'playing it down' on coronavirus: 'This is reckless homicide' MORE (D-Calif.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "Also very troubled we are reading about these high level US decisions about Iran in the media. The national security leaks from the Trump Administration are mind boggling."

Deeply concerned that @realDonaldTrump has no idea what he is doing, especially in foreign policy.



Also very troubled we are reading about these high level US decisions about Iran in the media. The national security leaks from the Trump Administration are mind boggling. https://t.co/xQ5rwOlt2x — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) June 20, 2019

Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' On The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline Trump signs largely symbolic pre-existing conditions order amid lawsuit MORE (D-Calif.) earlier on Thursday said that “we must do everything we can not to escalate the situation, but also to make sure that our personnel in the region are safe.”

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' 3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing Cruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish MORE (D-N.Y.) concurred, urging the U.S. to not go "bumbling" into another war in the Middle East after attending a briefing on the situation earlier Thursday, before the reportedly called-off strike.

“One of the best ways to avoid bumbling into war, a war that nobody wants, is to have a robust open debate and for Congress to have a real say,” Schumer told The Washington Post. “We learned that lesson in the run-up to Iraq."