Iran launched at least ten missiles at US bases in Qatar and Iraq in retaliation to strike on its nuclear sites.
Iran launched missiles at US bases in Qatar on Monday, in response to the American strike on its nuclear sites over the weekend.
Iran says it launched missiles at the American Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and a base in Iraq. However, a US military official told Reuters that no Iranian attack was recorded at any US base other than that in Qatar.
A short time later, Qatar announced that it had intercepted all the missiles that were launched.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-linked Tasnim News Agency announced the beginning of a “missile operation” against US bases in Qatar and Iraq, dubbing it “Good News of Victory.”
The IRGC wrote in a statement that the message “of this decisive action is that the Islamic Republic will not leave any attack on its territorial integrity, sovereignty, or national security unanswered under any circumstances.”
Residents of Doha reported hearing loud explosions, while videos on social media show interceptor missiles attempting to intercept the threats over the Qatari capital.
Sirens also sounded in Bahrain and Kuwait, with the Bahraini Ministry of Interior calling on citizens and residents to seek shelter.
The Qatari Defense Ministry stated that there were no casualties or damage as a result of the attack. The Ministry recommended that residents and visitors to the country follow official instructions.
White House sources told CNN that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine were in the Situation Room during the attack.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Dr. Majed Al Ansari condemned the attack, calling it a “flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, its airspace, international law, and the United Nations Charter,” while stating that Qatar reserves the right to “respond directly in a manner equivalent with the nature and scale of this brazen aggression.”
At the same time, the New York Times reported that Iran had reportedly provided “advance notice” of its missile attack on the US airbase in Qatar, in an apparent attempt to minimize casualties.
Earlier in the day, Fox News reported intelligence warnings that indicated an imminent Iranian attack on the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
Due to the warnings, President Donald Trump convened his national security team.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that the airspace over the country would be closed until further notice.
“As part of the State of Qatar’s commitment to the safety of its citizens, residents, and visitors, the relevant authorities announce the temporary suspension of air traffic in the country’s airspace. This measure is among a series of precautionary steps taken in light of developments in the region,” an official statement read.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that “official bodies are closely and continuously monitoring the situation and are assessing updates in coordination with regional and international partners. The public will be kept informed of any new developments through official channels.”
Earlier in the day, both the British and US embassies in the country sent emails to citizens in Qatar advising them to shelter in place.
Qatar hosts the largest US base in the region, which is thought to be a possible target of Iranian strikes in retaliation for the American strikes on its nuclear sites on Sunday morning.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry dismissed concerns by foreign nationals and embassies in the country, writing in a statement: “The advisories issued by a number of embassies to their nationals to exercise caution or avoid certain locations in the State of Qatar fall within the general policies adopted by various countries regarding travel guidance and security updates for their citizens around the world. These advisories do not necessarily reflect the existence of specific or credible threats.”
The Ministry reassured that the security situation in the state “remains stable,” and that “the competent authorities are closely monitoring the situation and remain fully prepared to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of citizens, residents, and visitors.”
Iran’s military commander, Abdolrahim Mousavi, said in an official statement that he guarantees a “decisive action” in response to the American strikes on nuclear facilities in the country.
Following the strikes on the nuclear sites, President Trump warned against Iranian retaliation, writing on social media: “Any retaliation by Iran against the United States of America will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed tonight.”
