Iran fires missiles at US bases in Qatar in payback for strikes, blasts in Doha

Iran on Monday night claimed it had carried out strikes against American military personnel stationed at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, according to reports on state-run Iranian television. The announcement was made alongside patriotic music, with a televised caption describing the attack as “a mighty and successful response by the armed forces of Iran to America’s aggression.”

Shortly before the announcement, Qatar took the extraordinary step of closing its airspace as a precautionary measure amid growing tensions in the region. A Reuters eyewitness in the capital Doha reported hearing multiple explosions, following threats issued by Tehran in retaliation for US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, via a statement published on the state-operated Qatar News Agency, said, “This is part of a series of precautionary measures taken in response to recent developments in the region.” The ministry added that Qatari authorities were “closely and continuously monitoring the situation, assessing developments in coordination with regional and international partners,” and would “provide the public with updated information in a timely manner through official channels.”