Iran fires missiles at US base in Qatar in payback for strikes; blasts in Doha

Iran launched six missiles toward US military bases in Qatar on Monday in a dramatic escalation following American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend, according to a report by Axios.

Iranian state television announced the start of Operation Besharat Fatah, declaring the attack on the Al Udeid Air Base as part of a campaign against what Tehran called “blatant military aggression” by the US.

The US maintains about 10,000 troops at Al Udeid Air Base, located outside Doha. It is the largest American military installation in the Middle East and serves as a critical hub for operations across the region.

Explosions were heard over the Qatari capital, Doha, shortly after the launches, Reuters and AFP news agencies said, quoting eyewitnesses.

The strikes on the US air base signal a dangerous turning point in the deepening standoff between Washington and Tehran, raising fears of wider regional conflict in the Middle East. It comes after Iran vowed retaliation after the US struck several of its nuclear facilities on Saturday night. Monday’s missile launches marked the first direct Iranian response.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said its armed forces used the same number of bombs in their retaliatory strike as the US used in its earlier attack on Iranian nuclear sites.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is currently in the White House Situation Room with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine, monitoring the situation, according to US media reports citing a senior administration official.

Earlier in the day, Qatar temporarily closed its airspace. The shutdown followed advisories issued by both US and British embassies urging their citizens there to shelter in place due to a “heightened security threat”.

The sudden warnings triggered alerts across Doha, with numerous institutions, from schools and universities to offices, sending messages instructing employees and students to remain indoors until further notice.

Iran issued threats to retaliate against the US after American bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-busters on the country’s underground nuclear installations over the weekend, while President Donald Trump openly raised the possibility of the Iranian government being toppled.

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