In a dramatic escalation Monday evening, Iran launched missiles at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, marking a direct strike on U.S. forces after American airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites the day before.
The base, which houses over 10,000 U.S. personnel and regional allies, was evacuated before impact. According to Qatari and U.S. officials, there were no casualties. Iran claimed six missiles hit the base, while U.S. officials said none caused damage.
President Donald Trump downplayed the attack as a “very weak response,” stating that Iran had provided advance warning. “Thank you for giving us early notice,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Nobody was hurt, and we countered effectively.”
Iranian state media portrayed the strike as a “mighty response” to American aggression. The country’s National Security Council said the attack mirrored the number of bombs used by the U.S. on its nuclear facilities and insisted it did not threaten Qatar.
Tehran’s move mirrored a strategy used in 2020, when it informed Iraq before attacking a U.S. base after the killing of Gen. Qasem Soleimani. Iranian officials told The New York Times the goal was symbolic retaliation, not escalation.
Qatar strongly condemned the missile strike as a breach of its sovereignty and international law. Its Ministry of Foreign Affairs called it a “blatant violation” and reserved the right to respond.
The airspace closures by Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE in response to the threat reflected the regional concern. Multiple airlines canceled flights, underscoring the conflict’s broader implications.
Despite the tension, the missile barrage may have been part of the diplomatic theater that paved the way for the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement hours later. Still, the attack signaled Iran’s capacity and intent to strike, even amid talks of de-escalation.
