Iran Launches Missile Attack Against US Base in Qatar
WASHINGTON — Two days after the United States bombed three of Iran’s majority nuclear enrichment facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan, Iran has struck back, launching a missile attack against the largest military installation in the Middle East.
Though the attack by Iran against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar was completely unsuccessful — Qatari defenses shot down all the incoming missiles — it was evidence that a de-escalation of tensions between Iran, the U.S. and Israel is far from near.
It also came as President Donald Trump was meeting with his national security team at the White House.
The administration later confirmed the air base in Qatar was targeted by a missile attack from Iran and said no casualties were reported.
A number of published reports suggest American military and intelligence officials have also detected activity suggesting Iran-backed militias are preparing to attack American bases in Iraq and Syria.
Already, air raid sirens are said to be sounding in Bahrain, where the U.S. Fifth Fleet is headquartered.
According to The New York Times, Iranian officials gave advanced notice of the attack to their Qatari counterparts in a bid to minimize civilian casualties.
As a result of that warning, the United States and its allies in the region were able to warn their citizens in Qatar to shelter in place.
Despite the warning, Qatar condemned Iran’s attack, calling it a “flagrant violation of its sovereignty … international law and the United Nations charter.
“We affirm that Qatar reserves the right to respond directly in a manner equivalent with the nature and scale of this brazen aggression, in line with international law,” Majed Al Ansari, the spokesman of the Qatari foreign ministry, said in a post on X.
“We reassure that Qatar’s air defenses successfully thwarted the attack and intercepted the Iranian missiles,” he added.
Qatar has since closed its airspace, as has the nearby United Arab Emirates.
In the meantime, Israel continued to launch military strikes on Tehran in its ongoing effort to dismantle Iran’s nuclear threat.
UN chief presses for return to diplomacy in Israel-Iran conflict
Secretary-General Antonio is publicly and privately “being supportive of any diplomatic efforts that can be restored,” the U.N. spokesman says.
Asked about France and Russia who have offered to mediate in the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said there are also other countries: “We’ve seen Oman being very productive in that sense, and I think anyone that can help, should help.”
Trump meanwhile called for the U.S. and other oil-producing economies to pump more oil as crude prices remain volatile following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Trump urged stepped-up production as the White House sharpened its warnings to Iran against closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas shipping lane, in retaliation for the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear program.
“To the Department of Energy: DRILL, BABY, DRILL!!! And I mean NOW!!!” Trump posted on social media. He added, “EVERYONE, KEEP OIL PRICES DOWN. I’M WATCHING! YOU’RE PLAYING RIGHT INTO THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY. DON’T DO IT!”
Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
