Qatar condemned the attack on Al Udeid Air Base attack, but said it successfully intercepted the missiles and no casualties were reported. It said its airspace was now safe. Iran said the attack in Qatar matched the number of bombs dropped by the United States on its nuclear sites this weekend, signalling its likely desire to de-escalate. Iran also said it targeted the base because it was outside of populated areas. Iran announced the attack on state television as martial music played. A caption on screen called it “a mighty and successful response” to “America’s aggression”.

The Ain al-Assad base housing US troops in western Iraq was also targeted, an Iraqi security official who was not authorised to comment publicly told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. It wasn’t immediately clear if there was damage to the Iraq base or any injuries. 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”. Al Udeid is also home to the Combined Air Operations Center, which provides command and control of air power across the region as well as the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, the largest expeditionary wing in the world. The retaliation came a day after the US launched a surprise attack Sunday morning on three of Iran’s nuclear sites. Just before the explosions, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on the social platform X: “We neither initiated the war nor seeking it. But we will not leave invasion to the great Iran without answer.” (Jamaica Gleaner)