Iran launched six missiles targeting United States military bases in Qatar on Monday, sparking major security concerns and signaling a dangerous escalation in the intensifying U.S.-Iran conflict following Washington’s recent airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Explosions were reported near Qatar’s capital, Doha, shortly after a Western diplomat revealed that the U.S.-run al Udeid Air Base had faced credible threats from Tehran since midday.
The development prompted Qatari authorities to temporarily shut its national airspace to “ensure the safety of residents and visitors,” according to Reuters.
The U.S. Embassy in Qatar earlier urged American citizens to shelter in place “out of an abundance of caution,” amid growing fears of regional retaliation.
Iran’s missile attack comes in direct response to a dramatic escalation over the weekend, when U.S. B-2 bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-busting bombs on suspected Iranian underground nuclear installations.
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The strikes marked one of the most aggressive moves in years by the United States, led by President Donald Trump, who has since publicly raised the possibility of regime change in Tehran.
In what appeared to be a coordinated expansion of the conflict, Israel also launched a targeted airstrike on a political prison in Tehran earlier on Monday.
The strike, which reportedly killed multiple high-profile detainees, was viewed as a deliberate attempt to hit the ideological and administrative core of Iran’s ruling establishment, far beyond traditional military or nuclear-related targets.
Two senior U.S. defense officials have told media that Washington now believes further Iranian reprisals targeting American forces across the Middle East are likely.
However, the Biden administration continues to advocate for a diplomatic solution to avoid a broader regional war, stressing the need for Tehran to abandon any retaliatory path.
Despite the ongoing missile exchanges, no U.S. casualties have been officially confirmed.
Pentagon sources said damage assessments are underway at al Udeid and other American military installations in the region.
The missile attack has dramatically heightened fears of a full-blown regional conflict engulfing the Gulf and beyond. Qatar, home to one of the largest American military contingents in the Middle East, has found itself on the frontlines of a rapidly escalating confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
Air traffic was suspended temporarily in Qatari airspace, with authorities citing security concerns. Commercial airlines have begun diverting routes as the region braces for possible additional strikes.
