Tensions in the Middle East escalated dramatically Monday night after Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles at the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, in what it called a direct retaliation for American strikes on its nuclear sites over the weekend.
The attack, confirmed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), is the first time Iranian missiles have openly targeted a U.S. installation in the Gulf state. Witnesses in Doha reported loud explosions and bright flashes in the sky as Qatar’s air defenses and U.S. systems intercepted incoming missiles.
No casualties have been reported so far. Qatari authorities said the base had been evacuated before the attack. The full extent of material damage is yet to be confirmed.
The Al Udeid base is the largest U.S. military facility in the region and houses approximately 8,000 U.S. personnel, alongside British forces. The base plays a critical role in U.S. air operations across the Middle East.
In a statement, the IRGC declared, “U.S. bases in the region are not strengths but vulnerabilities… Iran will not leave any attack on its sovereignty unanswered.”
The strike follows a weekend of coordinated U.S.-Israeli missile attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, which Washington said were intended to degrade Tehran’s ability to enrich weapons-grade uranium.
Airspace over Qatar was shut down hours before the strike, and both the U.S. and UK had issued warnings to their citizens to take shelter, citing “credible threats.”
This marks a dangerous turning point in a conflict that began with Israeli strikes on June 13. With Iran now directly targeting U.S. assets, fears of a broader regional war are growing by the hour. The White House has yet to issue an official response.
