Three top U.S. national security officials are expected to face questions about new war powers being drafted to fight Islamic State (IS) militants when they appear before a congressional committee.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hear from Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, on March 11.
The senators will likely ask questions about drafting a new authorization for military force against IS.
Commentators say that in preparing the legislation, the White House must balance demands from Democrats who don't want another ground war with concerns of Republicans who want that option left open.
They also will be quizzed about Iran and the conflicts in Iraq and Syria.