Iran has announced a missile attack targeting US bases stationed at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar as well as Ain Al Asad Air Base in Iraq’s Anbar province, calling it retaliation for recent US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officially confirmed the operation on Monday.
Residents in Doha reported seeing flares in the sky, along with loud explosions. The operation is reportedly under the name “Blessings of Victory.”
The escalation follows heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington, with Iran vowing to respond to US military actions.
It wasn’t immediately clear if there was damage to the Iraq base or any injuries.
The retaliatory strike is a direct response to the surprise US attack on three Iranian nuclear facilities yesterday, which rapidly escalated tensions between the two nations.
Officials respond
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the attack by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards was “a flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty, its airspace, and international law.”
Just before the explosions, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on X: “We neither initiated the war nor seeking it. But we will not leave invasion to the great Iran without answer.”
A senior White House official told Al-Monitor that “the White House and the Department of Defense are aware of and closely monitoring potential threats to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.”
The US Defense Department confirmed that Iran launched several short and medium range missiles targeting Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
In a statement, the Pentagon said “At this time, there are no reports of US casualties. We are monitoring this situation closely.”
