The president can do this. It was Constitutional.
Whi us this Paulsen guy?
Only Congress has the power to declare war.
That’s what the Constitution says.
So far no one has addressed 50 U.S.C. 1541 - 1548.
This 1973 piece of legislation, also known as the War Powers Resolution, requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing US Armed Forces to military action. It further limits the duration of that action to 60-days with a single 30 day extension.
Continued combat operations after that requires Congressional approval and/or a formal declaration of war.
IMHO since the missiles used had US markings on them they are “US Armed Forces.”
It would be nice if people did some research before they start making inflammatory statements about what is and is not legal.