WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday voted down a measure requiring congressional approval for any military action by President Donald Trump against Venezuela.

The bipartisan resolution failed in a 49-51 vote that required a simple majority to pass. Two Republicans — Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky — joined all 47 Democrats voting in support of the measure.

The vote comes after more than a dozen strikes against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean, Eastern Pacific or off the coastline of Latin America, killing at least 66 people.

Trump last month indicated that he would not seek congressional approval for additional military strikes against alleged drug traffickers. Instead, he said, "We’re just gonna kill people that are bringing drugs into our country.”

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