US senator accuses Pentagon of blocking Qatar base visit

On Tuesday, US Senator Chris Murphy claimed the Pentagon obstructed his visit to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar during his Middle Eastern trip, alleging the move aimed to hide the true impact of the Iran war. Murphy told journalists in Riyadh that this situation appeared to be an "active, unprecedented, unconstitutional effort to hide the costs and implications of this war from Congress and the American people."

The Pentagon did not immediately comment on the matter. In addition, Murphy stated he was never granted a briefing on the war while in the region. "I've never experienced anything like this in my tenure in the Senate, and it's part of a deliberate campaign of obfuscation that my Republican colleagues in Congress should demand an end to," he said.

Murphy has documented his journey to the Middle East, reporting that he was the first Democrat to visit the region since the war began. During his stay in Riyadh, he reported hearing alerts triggered by incoming Houthi missiles, describing the ongoing situation as a "full-blown regional war," just as experts predicted if the US attacked Iran.

Furthermore, Murphy mentioned visiting the US embassy in Riyadh to inspect damage from a drone attack early in the war. "If the attack had occurred during the day, it would have resulted in a mass-casualty event," he posted on X. Despite his criticism of the Pentagon, Murphy acknowledged that Secretary of State Marco Rubio facilitated his visit, arranging meetings with diplomats.

During the trip, Murphy met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and other senior Gulf officials.