Although the United States has formally declared war only 5 times and these declarations cover a total of 11 separate instances against specific nations, there are currently 137 military conflicts included in these lists, 5 of which are ongoing.

Israel has accused Iran of harboring genocidal intentions, while Iran has accused Israel of conducting a genocide in Gaza. Consequently, Israel has sought sanctions and military action against Iran to stop it from acquiring nuclear weapons.

These duties carry very broad powers, including the power to deploy American forces abroad and commit them to military operations when the President deems such action necessary to maintain the security and defense of the United States.