Iran has launched a wave of missile strikes targeting United States military installations in Qatar and Iraq, in what state media describe as a “mighty and victorious” operation in retaliation for recent US military actions.
According to Iran’s state broadcaster and the state-run Tasnim news agency, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) initiated the attacks late Monday, targeting US forces stationed in both countries.
The escalation follows days of warnings from US intelligence and military officials anticipating Iranian reprisals after strikes over the weekend that reportedly affected Iranian interests.
US officials have confirmed tracking multiple missiles launched from Iranian territory. The primary targets appear to be Al Udeid Air Base near Doha-the largest US military installation in the Middle East and additional bases in Iraq housing American personnel.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine are currently in the White House Situation Room overseeing developments.
A senior White House official said national security teams are “closely monitoring” credible threats, particularly to the Coalition Air Operations Centre at Al Udeid, which plays a critical role in regional surveillance and air missions.
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President Donald Trump, who visited Al Udeid in May, the first sitting US president to do so since 2003, had praised troops at the base, saying, “No visit in the Gulf would be complete without stopping to salute the people who keep America safe, strong and free.”
Shortly before reports of the missile launches, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry announced it was temporarily suspending air traffic in its airspace as a “precautionary measure” in response to unfolding regional developments.
The move was quickly followed by reports from Reuters and AFP of loud explosions over Doha.
About 8,000 American citizens live in Qatar, according to the US State Department, many of them connected to the Al Udeid base.
The situation remains fluid, with no immediate reports of casualties or damage. Pentagon and White House officials have yet to issue a formal statement on the impact of the attacks or whether the US will respond militarily.
