Iran launched missiles at a major US military base in Qatar late Monday in what it described as retaliation for recent American strikes on nuclear facilities. Qatari officials said air defenses intercepted the attack, and no casualties or damage were reported.
The strike targeted Al Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military facility in the Middle East and the central command post for American air operations across the region. Roughly 8,000 U.S. personnel, along with a small number of British troops, are stationed at the base. The missile attack on the US base, carried out by Iran, marks a significant spike in regional tensions.
Witnesses in Doha described hearing loud explosions overhead, and videos circulating online showed bright flashes as interception systems engaged. Authorities confirmed the base had been evacuated before the strike.
Iran confirms attack as direct response to U.S. strikes
Iranian state media confirmed the attack shortly after missiles were launched. A statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the strike was a direct response to U.S. military actions over the weekend.
“Iran will not leave any attack on its sovereignty unanswered,” the IRGC said. It also claimed U.S. bases in the region were “vulnerabilities, not strengths.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also commented for the first time since the U.S. airstrikes, saying Iran has not violated any country’s rights but would not tolerate violations against its own.
🚨MAJOR BREAKING: Iran has fired missiles at the largest U.S. military base in Qatar, the Al Udeid Air Base.
The base is home to at least 10,000 American troops who have been ordered into shelters.
No casualties have so far been reported. pic.twitter.com/1fNKe2qsaZ
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) June 23, 2025
“We will not surrender to anyone’s violation; this is the logic of the nation of Iran,” he said in a post on X, accompanied by an image of a burning American flag and buildings in flames.
Trump thanks Iran for advance warning, urges calm
President Donald Trump acknowledged the missile strike in a series of posts on Truth Social, thanking Iran for what he called “early notice.” He said the warning helped prevent casualties and added that “hardly any damage was done.”
Trump stated, “Most importantly, they’ve gotten it all out of their ‘system,’ and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE.” He also thanked the Emir of Qatar for his role in promoting peace and encouraged both Iran and Israel to pursue regional harmony.
Hours before the attack, Qatar temporarily closed its airspace. That decision came after the U.S. and UK governments advised their citizens in Qatar to take shelter, although both nations said their alerts were precautionary.
Reports surfaced of a “credible threat” to Al Udeid roughly an hour before the strike. U.S. media later cited anonymous officials who claimed Iranian missile systems had been positioned for launch.
Airspace closures and flight diversions across the Gulf
Air traffic data showed planes diverting from Hamad International Airport ahead of the strike. The airport, one of the busiest in the world for international travel, handles approximately 140,000 passengers daily. Neighboring Bahrain and Kuwait also closed their airspaces in response to the threat.
French President Emmanuel Macron urged all parties to show restraint and return to diplomacy. The “spiral of chaos” must end, he wrote on X.
I express France’s solidarity with Qatar, struck by Iran on its own soil.
I am in close contact with the country’s authorities and our partners in the region.
I call on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint, to de-escalate, and to return to the negotiating table.…
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 23, 2025
Macron said he was in close contact with Qatari officials and regional leaders, and expressed support for Doha in the wake of the strike.
Earlier Monday, he criticized the U.S. airstrikes on Iran, saying they lacked a clear legal foundation and risked destabilizing the region further.