WASHINGTON — Senate Intelligence Committee members confronted Trump administration officials Wednesday over their handling of military operations against Iran, marking the first formal congressional scrutiny since hostilities began three weeks ago.

The annual worldwide threats assessment hearing transformed into an intense examination of intelligence failures and strategic decisions that preceded the current conflict. Committee chair Senator Mark Warner pressed Director of National Intelligence appointees on whether adequate diplomatic channels were exhausted before military action commenced.

"The American people deserve answers about how we arrived at this point and what our endgame looks like," Warner told reporters following the closed-door portion of the hearing. Intelligence analysts warned that prolonged operations could destabilize regional allies and potentially draw in other Middle Eastern powers.

Former CIA analyst Kenneth Pollack described the congressional hearing as "overdue accountability" for an administration that has provided limited public justification for the military campaign. The hearing revealed significant disagreements within intelligence agencies about Iran's nuclear capabilities and the effectiveness of targeted strikes on Revolutionary Guard facilities.