Sen. McSally surveys damaged Saudi oil facility during Middle East trip

PHOENIX – Republican U.S. Sen. Martha McSally of Arizona recently returned from a bipartisan visit to the Middle East that included a stop at the Saudi Arabian oil facility damaged in attacks last month.

The former Air Force pilot was joined by Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia.

They spent time at the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and multiple U.S. military bases throughout the Gulf States, according to a Monday press release.

“After multiple deployments to the Middle East, I know firsthand the complex regional security challenges that are increasing with Iran’s recent dangerous and escalating attacks,” McSally said in the release.

“It was great to be joined by Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia to see our military posture and meet many Arizonans who are currently deployed to the region.”

McSally and Manchin both serve on two committees with interests in the Middle East, Senate Armed Services and Senate Energy and Natural Resources.

They were the first U.S. lawmakers to visit the state-owned Saudi Aramco oil processing facility in Abqaiq since it sustained damage in missile and drone attacks Sept. 14.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed credit for the attacks, but the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have maintained that Iran was responsible.

During the trip, McSally and Manchin spoke with state and defense department officials about how Iran’s activities impact global commerce and visited with crew members on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and USS Ramage destroyer, according to the release.

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