Iran Fires Missiles at U.S. Bases in Qatar and Iraq, Citing Retaliation for American Strikes

 Iran Fires Missiles at U.S. Bases in Qatar and Iraq, Citing Retaliation for American Strikes

In a major escalation, Iran launched missile strikes Monday evening at the al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar and the Ain al-Assad base in western Iraq, both of which host U.S. troops. Tehran said the attack was in direct response to American airstrikes on its nuclear facilities a day earlier.

The al-Udeid base, located in Qatar and home to about 10,000 American personnel, is the largest U.S. military installation in West Asia and serves as the U.S. Central Command headquarters. According to Iran’s military, the missile attack was carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) under the command of the Supreme National Security Council.

In its statement, Iran described the U.S. strikes as “blatant military aggression” and vowed never to let violations of its sovereignty or national security go unanswered.

Qatar’s Defence Ministry confirmed that its air defense systems intercepted the incoming missiles and reported no casualties. The government temporarily closed its airspace, citing safety concerns, after the U.S. Embassy in Doha advised American citizens to take shelter. Loud explosions and interceptor flashes lit up Doha’s sky briefly, but the situation was brought under control quickly.

Qatar condemned the Iranian attack, calling it a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty and international law. A spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign Ministry said the country reserves the right to respond proportionately, in line with international law.

Meanwhile, Iraq also reported that its base at Ain al-Assad, which houses American troops, was targeted. There were no immediate reports of casualties from there either.

The situation unfolded shortly after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying Iran was not seeking war but would respond to any aggression. Iran also claimed it had fired missiles at Israeli cities earlier that day in a separate development.

This latest round of tensions comes against the backdrop of a broader regional conflict. Earlier on Monday, Israel reportedly struck Iranian government targets, prompting Tehran's retaliation.

In light of the attacks, the Indian embassy in Doha urged its nationals to remain indoors and exercise caution. Bahrain, another Gulf country hosting a major U.S. base, also took precautions by temporarily relocating some embassy staff and suspending air traffic.

Adding to the diplomatic complexity, Iran’s Foreign Minister met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow the same day. Both sides stressed their strategic partnership and coordination on regional and nuclear issues.

As tensions flared, U.S. President Donald Trump remained publicly silent on the developments.