Iran launched missile attacks on Monday targeting the U.S. military base at Al Udeid in Qatar, in direct retaliation for American airstrikes on its nuclear facilities, escalating tensions across the already volatile Gulf region.
Shortly after the missiles were fired, Bahrain — home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet — temporarily shut down its airspace, echoing a similar move by Qatar just before the attack occurred.
Qatar swiftly condemned the assault, describing it as a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty, airspace, and international law. However, authorities said the missiles were intercepted, no casualties were reported, and its airspace has since been secured.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the strike, which it said mirrored the number of bombs the U.S. had dropped on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend.
The IRGC also stated the base was chosen because it is located outside densely populated areas, suggesting a calculated move to avoid civilian casualties and prevent further escalation.
Iranian state television announced the operation while martial music played in the background, labeling it “a mighty and successful response to America’s aggression.”
Separately, a U.S. military installation in western Iraq — the Ain al-Assad Air Base — also came under attack.
An Iraqi security official told the Associated Press that U.S. forces there were targeted, but noted that Iran has not claimed responsibility. Allied militias may have been responsible for the attack. It remains unclear whether there were any casualties or damage.
Al Udeid Air Base is a critical hub for U.S. military operations in the Middle East. It houses the Combined Air Operations Center, which oversees air power coordination across the region, and the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, the largest of its kind globally.
Monday’s strike followed a surprise U.S. attack on three Iranian nuclear sites early Sunday. Just before the Iranian missiles were launched, President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on X: “We neither initiated the war nor seek it. But we will not leave invasion to the great Iran without answer.”
