Iran fired missiles towards the Middle East’s largest U.S. air base, home to some 10,000 American troops, in Qatar on Monday, the Gulf country’s foreign ministry confirmed.
“We are reassured that Qatari air defenses thwarted the attack and successfully intercepted the Iranian missiles,” wrote Majed al-Ansari, spokesman for the Qatari foreign ministry, of the attack on Al Udeid Air Base.
“We affirm that the State of Qatar reserves the right to respond directly in a manner proportional to the nature and scale of this blatant aggression and in accordance with international law,” the spokesman said.
He added that there were no casualties as a result of the attack.
A senior White House official told JNS that the White House and Pentagon are “aware of, and closely monitoring, potential threats to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.”
U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that Iran had fired 14 missiles, 13 of which were intercepted, with the remaining missile determined not to be a threat.
“Iran has officially responded to our obliteration of their nuclear facilities with a very weak response,” Trump wrote. “Most importantly, they’ve gotten it all out of their ‘system,’ and there will, hopefully, be no further hate.”
He added that Iran had given the United States forewarning of the attack.
“I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost and nobody to be injured,” Trump wrote. “Perhaps Iran can now proceed to peace and harmony in the region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same.”
Hours before the ballistic missile attack, Qatar closed its airspace, and the U.S. State Department ordered Americans to shelter in place.
Iran also fired at least one ballistic missile at U.S. forces in Iraq, CNN reported.
Iranian state media dubbed the attack “Operation Herald of Victory” and said it was a response to the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday.
