Iran launches huge missile attack on US airbase as explosions heard in Qatar | World | News
Explosions have been heard over Doha, Qatar. Iranian state media have announced Iran has begun its “mighty and victorious” response to US strikes on the country’s nuclear sites on Sunday (June 22). The state-run Tasnim agency has said that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard launched missiles at US bases in Qatar and Iraq.
Earlier this evening, there were reports that Iran was preparing to strike US bases in the Middle East, with Qatar closing its airspace. There have also been reports of sirens and air defences being active at the US Al Udeid Air Base – the largest US military base in the Middle East – in Qatar. A senior US official has said that the White House and the Department of Defense are aware of, and are closely monitoring, potential threats to the airbase. US President Donald Trump is reportedly in the Situation Room in the White House, alongside Gen Dan Caine, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth .
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp has said in a statement in a “clear and explicit” message to the White House that “[Iran] will not leave any attack on its territorial integrity, sovereignty, and national security unanswered under any circumstances”.
The missile strike comes just after Qatar temporarily closed its airspace, with flights to Doha being diverted.
Qatar’s government has responded to the attack, with Majed al-Ansari, official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, writing on X: “We consider this a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, its airspace, international law, and the United Nations charter.”
He said Qatar’s air defence systems “successfully thwarted the attack and intercepted the Iranian missiles” and the base had been evacuated earlier. He added: “All necessary steps were taken to ensure the safety of personnel at the base, including Qatari Armed Forces members, friendly forces, and others.
“We confirm that no injuries or human casualties resulted from the attack.”
The spokesperson says Qatar reserves the right to respond “in a manner equivalent with the nature and scale of this brazen aggression”.
British nationals were told earlier today by the UK Foreign Office to “shelter in place”. It said: “Following a US security alert for US nationals in Qatar, out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that British nationals in Qatar shelter in place until further notice. Follow instructions from local authorities. The FCDO is in contact with local authorities and international partners, and will provide further updates as the situation develops.”
The short update came just a few hours after the US Embassy in Qatar emailed its own “shelter in place” alert to Americans in the country.
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