The Obama administration has secured a victory, as US lawmakers voted down a Republican effort to cut off money for US operations in the Libya conflict.

This comes after the House of Representatives voted against a resolution giving President Obama authority to order US operations in Libya.

Republicans' resolution strikes current-year defense funding for the Libya mission. Exceptions apply for search and rescue, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, aerial refueling and operational planning. It failed the House on a 180 to 238 vote.

The vote gave the White House a somewhat surprise victory in its spat with the Congress on war powers, as the measure was supported by Republican leadership.

Democrats argued that limited activities would prevent the US from helping much with the humanitarian mission. Several lawmakers from the party suggested that the US needs more authority than what was offered in the bill.

Earlier, war-fatigued lawmakers in House took a symbolic swipe at Obama's Libya policy, rejecting a resolution that would have authorized his limited military intervention against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for a year.

The measure to authorize the US mission in Libya could have paved the way for deployment of ground forces.

But the result is unlikely to have an immediate impact on US operations in Libya.

According to the US Constitution, the Congress has the right to declare wars. The 1973 War Powers Resolution prohibits US armed forces from being involved in military actions for over 60 days, with a 30-day withdrawal period, without an authorization of the use of military force or a declaration of war.

Congress members have been demanding the Obama administration seek approval for continued participation in the Libya conflict.

But the White House argues the US military's support role in Libya does not meet the threshold set by the War Powers Resolution, and therefore requires no Congressional approval.