Watch live: Pentagon's No. 3 official testifies before Senate on national defense after Iran strikes

Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's under secretary of defense for policy, is set to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday morning regarding the U.S. national defense strategy, with the hearing taking place just days after the United States and Israel conducted joint strikes against Iran that resulted in the death of Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other officials, escalating regional tensions and raising concerns about potential wider conflict. The testimony comes at a critical moment in international relations as the United States navigates the aftermath of the unprecedented military action against a major Middle Eastern power, which has drawn both support and condemnation from various global stakeholders. Colby, a key architect of U.S. defense policy, will likely face intense questioning from senators regarding the strategic implications of the Iran operation, potential retaliatory measures, and how the incident might reshape America's defense posture in the Middle East and beyond. The hearing represents a significant moment of congressional oversight as lawmakers seek to understand the administration's decision-making process and assess whether the operation aligns with stated national security objectives.