Interview with a security analyst the day after the US attack on Iran

Iran today attacked US bases in Qatar and Iraq in retaliation for the US strike on its nuclear facilities on Sunday night. According to agencies, this was announced by Iranian state media around 19:00 CEST. Qatar claims that its air defenses successfully intercepted the missile strike on the US Al-Udeid base, which is located on its territory. The Qatari Foreign Ministry said that the strike did not cause any casualties, writes Reuters. Qatar condemned the Iranian attack as a clear violation of its sovereignty.

"Iran's missile operation against US bases in Iraq and Qatar has begun," the Iranian state news agency IRNA said, according to AFP. Other Iranian state media outlets carried similar statements. The Iranian military said the strike was in retaliation for a US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities on Sunday night. Iranian authorities also said they used the same amount of ammunition in the retaliatory strike as the United States used in its attack on Iranian facilities.

"Qatar's air defenses successfully intercepted a missile strike on Al-Udeid base," the Qatari Defense Ministry said. Qatar called the missile attack from Iran a clear violation of its sovereignty and international law.

Doha skyline......

— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) June 23, 2025

The US Embassy in Qatar urged citizens to stay in a safe place until further notice on its website. A senior White House official said the Pentagon and the White House were closely monitoring the threat to Al-Udeid Air Base.

Reuters reported last week that the US Department of Defense had ordered the relocation of some aircraft and ships from bases in the Middle East that could be at risk from a potential Iranian attack.

The New York Times reported, citing three unnamed Iranian sources, that Tehran informed Qatari officials about the strike in advance.

Lo último:

Iran ataca Qatar donde EEUU tiene su mayor base militar en el golfo. El video muestra las defensas aéreas de Qatar interceptando misiles balísticos iraníes sobre Doha. pic.twitter.com/kZUMH3Zysx

— BTNnoticias (@Santiagoaburto8) June 23, 2025

The agency said the aircraft movement also affected Al-Udeid Air Base, located in the desert southwest of the Qatari capital Doha, and is the largest US military base in the Middle East with approximately 10,000 troops. The base is also home to the US military's regional command, CENTCOM.

Tehran Airport Attack: Israel Devastates F14 Tomcat Fighters

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) claims to have targeted and destroyed two F-14 Tomcat aircraft at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran, Iran, as part of a broader military operation aimed at neutralizing threats to Israeli airspace, June 16, 2025./Source: Israeli Air Force (IAF)

According to an AP source, Iran also attacked a base housing US forces in Iraq with missiles.

Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have closed their airspace

Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain temporarily closed their airspace tonight, fearing an attack by Iran, which has warned the United States it is preparing retaliation for its weekend strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, according to statements from the countries and air traffic records, Reuters reported.

Many of the world's airlines have already suspended flights to the Middle East. Airlines are avoiding flights to airports in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, and to a lesser extent, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, likely due to concerns that Iran or its allies will attack US military bases in those countries with drones or missiles, said Osprey Flight Solutions, a consultancy that focuses on aviation risks.

The normally busy airspace stretching from Iran and Iraq to the Mediterranean Sea has been almost empty for 10 days. Airlines are canceling, diverting or postponing flights en masse in the wake of Israeli strikes on Iran that began on June 13. The reason is announced airspace closures and security concerns.