The US Senate on Thursday advanced a measure aimed at curbing President Donald Trump's authority to launch strikes on Venezuela.
The Senate agreed to the motion to discharge the War Powers Resolution by a vote of 52-47.
Five Republicans-Senators Josh Hawley, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Rand Paul, and Todd Young-voted in favor of the bill, which was introduced by Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine.
Republican Sen. Steve Daines did not vote.
A decisive vote is expected next week.
Two previous efforts to move similar resolutions were rejected in the upper chamber last year by Republicans as the Trump administration escalated military pressure on Venezuela with strikes beginning in September.
Last weekend the US dramatically escalated the confrontation with a military operation in Venezuela, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. Trump later said his administration would "run" Venezuela and its oil assets during a transition period.
Speaking ahead of the vote, Kaine said US troops should not be used in hostilities in Venezuela without a vote of Congress, as the Constitution requires.
"Before you send our sons and daughters to war, come to Congress ... and with that, I moved to discharge the Committee on Foreign Relations from further consideration of S.J. Res. 98 to direct the removal of the United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress."
Kaine underlined that his resolution does not challenge last week's execution of an arrest warrant for Maduro, saying that the valid warrant bringing him to justice in the US would be good for both America and Venezuela.
After the voting, Trump slammed the group of Republican senators for joining Democrats, saying they "should never be elected to office again."
"Republicans should be ashamed of the Senators that just voted with Democrats in attempting to take away our Powers to fight and defend the United States of America," Trump said on his social media company Truth Social.
He argued that the vote "greatly hampers" American self-defense and national security, and also impedes president's authority as commander in cheif.
"In any event, and despite their 'stupidity,' the War Powers Act is Unconstitutional, totally violating Article II of the Constitution, as all Presidents, and their Departments of Justice, have determined before me," Trump said, adding a "more important" Senate vote will be taking place next week.
