Iran has fired six missiles at US military installations in Qatar and Iraq, in what appears to be a direct response to President Donald Trump’s recent bombing of key Iranian nuclear sites.
On Saturday night (June 21), Trump authorized airstrikes on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear facilities, calling the operation a “spectacular success” that “completely obliterated” the targeted sites.
The move quickly sparked international concern, with many warning that Iran would retaliate forcefully. Iranian officials vowed a “decisive response,” raising fears of escalating conflict in the already tense region.
That retaliation came today (Monday, June 23), as Iran targeted Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar—the largest US military base in the Middle East and home to approximately 10,000 American troops.
According to an Iraqi security official speaking to the Associated Press, the Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq, which also houses US forces, was hit as part of the coordinated strike.
The US struck three targets in Iran over the weekend (Satellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies/Getty)
“The White House and the department of defence are aware of, and closely monitoring, potential threats,” the US government said in a statement.
Qatari air defences were able to intercept the missiles, and officials have confirmed there were no casualties at Al Udeid.
Earlier today, it was announced that Qatari airspace had been closed amid the threat of an attack by Iran. And just a few hours ago, the US embassy in Qatar told US citizens they should shelter in place ‘until further notice’.
Iranian Tasnim news agency say that operation ‘Annunciation of Victory’ launched against US bases.
Meanwhile, Iran’s armed forces have confirmed the Al-Udeid base in Qatar has been hit with a ‘devastating and powerful’ missile attack.
Just before the explosions, Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on Twitter: “We neither initiated the war nor seeking it. But we will not leave invasion to the great Iran without answer.”
Iran’s strikes of US air bases in the Middle East come after President Trump launched strikes of his own (Daniel Torok/The White House via Getty Images)
On the 11th day of the conflict, Israel said it attacked ‘regime targets and government repression bodies in the heart of Tehran’ – Iran’s capital.
The Israeli military warned Iranians that it would continue to attack military sites around Tehran over ‘the coming days’ as its focuses has shifted to symbolic targets as well.
The latest strikes unfolded only hours after President Trump openly raised the possibility himself after just a day earlier inserting America into the war with its unprecedented stealth-bomber strike on three Iranian nuclear sites.
“If the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???” the president wrote on Truth Social.
Trump is believed to the in the West Wing of the White House, with the BBC reporting a Marine standing outside the door is indicating just that.
