Several explosions were heard Monday night above the capital of Qatar, Doha, after Tehran threatened to retaliate against recent American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear targets.
Iran launched six missiles towards American military bases in Qatar, Reuters reports.
A source told Sky News that the Iranian missiles targeted the Al Udeid airbase. It is the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East, hosting approximately 10,000 soldiers.
Moreover, Iran confirmed that it attacked the American Al Udeid airbase in Qatar. The announcement was made on public television.
- US expects Iranian retaliation against American forces to occur soon
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Subsequently, the Qatari Ministry of Defense stated that the missile attack was intercepted without casualties. It does not specify, for now, the number or type of missiles used by the Iranians.
Qatar said it is a ''flagrant violation'' of its sovereignty, Reuters reports.
”Qatar firmly condemns the attack on the Al-Udeid airbase by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, which we consider a flagrant violation of Qatar's sovereignty and airspace, as well as international law,” said Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari in a statement.
The Doha government also stated that it reserves the right to respond.
”Qatar reserves the right to respond directly, in a proportional manner, to the scale of this flagrant aggression and in accordance with international law,” the same statement indicates.
Trump Administration Knew in Advance of the Attack
The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that Iran attacked the Al Udeid airbase in Qatar "as retaliation, but largely as a symbolic response to American attacks over the weekend."
According to The Guardian, an official stated that Iran launched medium-range ballistic missiles after communicating this official move in advance to Qatari and American officials.
No American casualties were reported.
Closed Airspace
On Monday, Qatari authorities decided to temporarily close the airspace. The decision was made after U.S. and UK officials warned Qatar residents to take shelter.
The U.S. stated that the warning was issued "as a precaution," while Qatar said the advice does not reflect the situation on the ground.
However, Qatari authorities have temporarily closed their airspace, confirmed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to Sky News.
The Ministry also stated that the measure was taken to ensure the safety of residents and visitors.
The decision comes as Iran reiterated threats of retaliation against the U.S. following attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.
Bahrain, a Gulf state hosting the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters, announced on Monday that it is temporarily suspending flights in its airspace.
The Bahrain Interior Ministry urged residents to avoid driving on main roads "for public safety," stating that these should be kept for official use.
Iran has threatened to retaliate against the United States after American bombers dropped bunker-busting bombs on the country's underground nuclear installations over the weekend, while President Donald Trump openly mentioned the possibility of overthrowing the Iranian government.
Two American officials stated that Washington assesses that Iran could soon carry out attacks targeting U.S. forces in the Middle East, although the U.S. is still seeking a diplomatic solution for Tehran to refrain from any retaliation.