Iranian Missiles Intercepted Over Qatar; Doha Vows Response to “Brazen Aggression”
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Dr. Majed Al Ansari, condemned the attack on Al Udeid Air Base on X, calling it a “flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, its airspace, international law, and the United Nations Charter.”
Al Udeid Air Base is one of two military bases southwest of Doha, Qatar, also known as Abu Nakhlah Airport.
It houses the Qatar Emiri Air Force, United States Air Force, Royal Air Force, and other foreign forces. It is home to the forward headquarters of the United States Central Command, the headquarters of the United States Air Forces Central Command, the No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group RAF, and the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing of the USAF.
The spokesperson affirmed that Qatar “reserves the right to respond directly in a manner equivalent with the nature and scale of this brazen aggression.”
Al Ansari reassured the public that its air defenses successfully thwarted the attack and intercepted the Iranian missiles, with no injuries or human casualties reported.
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The base had been evacuated earlier as a precautionary measure, ensuring the safety of all personnel.
Qatar emphasized that “the continuation of such escalatory military actions will undermine security and stability in the region, dragging it into situations that could have catastrophic consequences for international peace and security.”
The nation reiterated its consistent calls for an immediate cessation of all military actions and a return to “the negotiating table and dialogue,” stressing the importance of diplomatic solutions and good-neighborliness to ensure regional security.
Iran announced Monday it launched a missile attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar, a direct retaliation for American bombings of its nuclear sites over the weekend. The announcement, made on Iranian state television amidst martial music, declared it “a mighty and successful response by the armed forces of Iran to America’s aggression.” The attack closely followed Qatar’s precautionary closure of its airspace due to escalating threats from Tehran.
The White House and Pentagon are “closely monitoring” the situation at Al Udeid Air Base, according to a senior administration official. This direct strike marks a significant escalation in the already tense regional standoff.
The missile attack comes after the U.S. deployed B-2 bombers to strike three Iranian nuclear facilities, including the heavily fortified Fordo site, with sophisticated bunker-buster bombs. While the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog in Vienna anticipates “very significant damage” at Fordo, several Iranian officials claim nuclear material was moved from targeted sites prior to the strikes.
The recent events follow a surprise barrage of Israeli attacks on Iranian sites on June 13, which Israel asserted were necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear bombs. Iran has since retaliated with missile and drone strikes in Israel, while Israel has continued its strikes within Iran.
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The U.S. Embassy in Qatar had earlier advised Americans to “shelter in place,” and Qatar’s foreign ministry had temporarily suspended air traffic, though it maintained that the country’s security situation was stable and advisories from embassies did not reflect specific threats. Approximately 10,000 U.S. soldiers are stationed at Al Udeid Air Base, a key American military presence in the Middle East.
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