Iran launched a missile operation on Monday called"Victory Announcement" against a US base in Qatar. The Iranian military said in a statement that it had launched a"devastating and powerful" missile attack against Al Udeid in Qatar, the largest US base in the Middle East. The country had closed its airspace moments earlier, amid heightened tensions following the US attacks in Iran. Tehran has assured that it will not leave any attack on its territory unchallenged under any circumstances. The Iranian military says US regional bases are"a major weakness and a thorn in the side of the US warmongering regime," not a strength, the statement continues. The regime used the same number of bombs as those dropped by the US in its attack on Sunday. Iran stressed that"this action poses no threat to our friendly and brotherly neighbor Qatar."
The White House and the Department of Defense are closely monitoring the situation at Al Udeid, and Trump is meeting with the U.S. Department of Defense in the so-called"situation room." According to Axios, Iran warned the Trump administration hours earlier through diplomatic channels that it was planning to attack its base in Qatar.
Qatar’s Defense Ministry said Monday that Qatari air defenses “successfully intercepted” a missile attack targeting Al-Udeid Air Base outside Doha, amid Iran’s retaliation for Sunday’s US strikes. “Qatar’s air defenses successfully intercepted a missile attack targeting Al-Udeid Air Base,” the ministry said in a statement on its official Twitter account, adding that no one was killed or injured in the incident. The ministry also said that Qatar’s airspace and territory “are safe” and that its armed forces “are always ready to deal with any threat,” while advising citizens and residents to seek information about the incident from official sources. Qatar's private Al Jazeera television reported that explosions and bursts of gunfire were heard over Qatar, home to the Al Udeid air base, which houses some 10,000 US troops and serves as the forward headquarters for the US Central Command (CENTCOM). Shortly before the attack, the Qatari Foreign Ministry announced a"temporary" suspension of air traffic in the country to "ensure the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors" amid the escalation between Israel, the United States, and Iran.
The United Arab Emirates has closed its airspace, based on flight paths and air traffic control audio, according to a post by FlightRadar on X. Bahrain has also closed its airspace, and its interior minister has urged its citizens and residents to remain calm and move to the nearest safe place. The main US base in Syria has also been placed on high alert for a possible attack by Iran or its allied groups.
