Iran launched a missile attack early Monday on the U.S. military’s Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, in what it described as a retaliatory strike following American airstrikes on its nuclear facilities.
Eyewitnesses in Doha reported seeing missiles streaking across the sky before hearing loud explosions near the base. The full extent of the damage and any potential casualties has not yet been confirmed by U.S. or Qatari officials.
Iranian state television confirmed the missile strike, airing footage of celebrations and military music while displaying a caption that described the operation as “a mighty and successful response to America’s aggression.”
The attack came shortly after Qatar closed its airspace, citing security concerns amid increasing tensions in the region.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on the social platform X just before the attack, stating:
> “We neither initiated the war nor are we seeking it. But we will not leave any invasion of the great Iran unanswered.”
Al Udeid Air Base is the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East and hosts the forward headquarters of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Iran has previously threatened this base in response to what it views as hostile American actions in the region.
Despite sharing an offshore gas field with Iran and maintaining diplomatic ties, Qatar has found itself caught in the crossfire of escalating hostilities between Washington and Tehran.
Earlier in the day, Israel reportedly widened its offensive against Iran, targeting strategic sites including the gate of Tehran’s Evin Prison—infamous for holding political prisoners—and the headquarters of Iran’s security forces accused of suppressing nationwide protests.
The situation marks a dangerous escalation in regional conflict, raising fears of a broader war that could engulf the Persian Gulf and beyond.
