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Trump administration officials told lawmakers the U.S. isn’t planning strikes inside Venezuela and lacks legal grounds for land targets, despite a Caribbean military buildup. An existing Justice Department opinion authorizes attacks on suspected drug boats, including 16 since September that killed at least 67 people, but not on land. Officials are seeking a new legal rationale without Congress while stressing the deployment supports counternarcotics and intelligence. Lawmakers split: Sen. Mark Warner praised intelligence but questioned lethal force over interdiction; Rep. Gregory Meeks doubted the strikes' legality. Briefers insisted targets are rigorously vetted and tied to cartels.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.