Overview
- Administration officials told Congress they are not planning strikes inside Venezuela and that the current Office of Legal Counsel opinion does not authorize land attacks or operations in Venezuelan territory.
- Officials said they are seeking a separate Justice Department opinion that could justify land strikes without new congressional authorization, while stressing no decision has been made.
- A bipartisan Senate resolution scheduled for a 5 p.m. vote would direct the president to end hostilities within or against Venezuela absent explicit authorization from Congress, with lawmakers citing unresolved legal and oversight concerns.
- Since Sept. 2, the U.S. has acknowledged 16 lethal strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, with at least 67 people killed and limited public evidence about identities or cargo; some incidents had survivors who were repatriated.
- Lawmakers reported confidence in intelligence tracking of suspected trafficking vessels but questioned the use of lethal force over interdictions and said the administration has not provided sufficient legal justification or details on who was killed.