In a snub to US president Barack Obama, the House of Representatives has rejected a resolution authorising American military operations in Libya. In a lopsided result, dozens of Democrats joined Republicans to vote down authorisation for US operations in Libya. The administration argued that the limited US mission, which still involves drone strikes, does not rise to the level of hostilities requiring congressional approval. The Republican-led House voted 123-295, largely along party lines, to reject the resolution endorsing US involvement in the NATO-led mission. The House stopped short of trying to bar US forces from continuing to carry out air strikes. A later move to cut off funding for the mission was also rejected. Speaker John Boehner says he respects the president's war power authority. “But it does not free the president from accountability to the American people,” he said. The White House says it is disappointed by the vote to reject authorisation for US military operations in Libya.