WASHINGTON — Director of National Intelligence Sarah Chen and CIA Director Michael Rodriguez faced intense questioning from lawmakers Wednesday as the Senate Intelligence Committee held its annual assessment of global security threats, with Iran's military capabilities dominating the three-hour session.

The hearing marked the first public appearance by Trump administration intelligence chiefs since military operations against Iranian targets began February 28. Committee Chairman Senator Robert Hayes pressed officials on whether intelligence assessments adequately predicted Iran's response to initial strikes on Revolutionary Guard facilities near the Iraq border.

"We're seeing Iranian proxy groups activate across multiple theaters in ways our briefings suggested were unlikely," Hayes said during the hearing. "The American people deserve to know if we're operating with accurate intelligence or flying blind." Rodriguez defended the intelligence community's work, arguing that Iran's "asymmetric response pattern has evolved beyond historical precedents."

Vice Chairman Senator Patricia Williams questioned whether intelligence failures contributed to the escalation. Former Pentagon analyst David Thornton, now with the Atlantic Council, told The Meridian that congressional oversight becomes especially critical during active conflicts. "These hearings serve as a real-time check on intelligence accuracy when lives are at stake," Thornton said. The session revealed tensions between Republican senators supporting expanded operations and Democrats calling for diplomatic engagement.