Iran’s military said Monday it carried out a missile attack on the Al Udeid U.S. airbase in Qatar, after explosions were heard across Doha. The strike followed Tehran’s threat to retaliate for U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear sites.
Over the weekend, U.S. bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-busters on Iranian underground nuclear facilities, joining Israel’s escalating air campaign. President Donald Trump also raised the possibility of the Iranian government being toppled.
Qatar’s defense minister, quoted by Al Jazeera TV, said its air defenses intercepted missiles aimed at Al Udeid, the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East. Qatari officials reported no casualties and condemned the attack, stating it reserved the right to respond.
A Western diplomat told Reuters there had been a credible threat to the base following the U.S. strikes. In Iraq, the U.S. Ain al-Asad base activated its air defense system amid fears of further attacks.
A senior White House official said the administration is “closely monitoring potential threats” to Al Udeid. Washington has assessed that Iran could strike U.S. forces in the region, but officials emphasized that diplomacy remained a goal. “The U.S. was still seeking a diplomatic resolution that would see Tehran forgo any reprisal,” two U.S. officials said.
Qatar temporarily closed its airspace to protect residents and visitors. The U.S. embassy in Doha advised Americans to shelter in place “out of an abundance of caution.”
Meanwhile, Israel bombed a jail for political prisoners in Tehran, signaling an escalation in its targeting strategy. Aiming beyond military and nuclear facilities, the strike hit at Iran’s ruling infrastructure.
Despite Iran’s threats to disrupt oil shipments through the Gulf, global oil prices remained stable, indicating skepticism among traders that Tehran would risk actions disrupting supplies.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, seeking support from one of Tehran’s last powerful allies. The diplomatic effort comes as Tehran faces mounting pressure from U.S. and Israeli military campaigns.
The Al Udeid airbase, a critical hub for American operations in the Middle East, remains on high alert amid heightened tensions across the Gulf.
