Democratic senator says Pentagon denied him access to US base in Qatar 'to hide the costs' of Iran war

A senior U.S. senator claims the Pentagon denied him access to a major military base in Qatar during a recent Middle East trip, alleging the Trump administration sought to conceal evidence of war-related damage. The lawmaker, part of an official congressional delegation visiting the region, says the restriction raises concerns about transparency in military operations. The move comes amid ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, with the senator suggesting the administration may be downplaying the impact of hostilities. Details on the delegation’s broader findings and the Pentagon’s justification for the access denial remain unclear.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), says the Pentagon blocked him from a key U.S. military base in Qatar while he traveling in the Middle East, accusing the Trump administration of trying to hide damage caused by the Iran war. Murphy, who traveled to Doha, Qatar, and later Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of a congressional delegation,...