The Trump administration has issued a formal response following Iran’s retaliatory missile attacks on US military bases in Qatar and Iraq, which came just days after American airstrikes targeted key nuclear sites within Iran.
The Iranian response, launched early Monday (June 23), followed a series of airstrikes ordered by President Donald Trump on Saturday, June 21. The US operation targeted three of Iran’s major nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. The strike was confirmed by Trump himself via a statement on Truth Social, where he celebrated the mission as a military triumph.
“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iranian airspace,” Trump wrote.
He added: “A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
The Trump administration has not yet detailed potential next steps, but officials have reiterated that any further aggression from Iran will be met with a swift and decisive response. The situation remains tense as global leaders urge restraint to avoid a wider regional conflict.
Trump’s administration has commented following the retaliatory strike from Iran(Daniel Torok/The White House via Getty Images)
In a separate post, he added: “ANY RETALIATION BY IRAN AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL BE MET WITH FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED TONIGHT. THANK YOU! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.”
However, it would appear Iran has done just that and retaliated on Monday (June 23).
Iran targeted Al Udeid Air Base airbase in Qatar, the largest US base in the Middle East that houses some 10,000 troops, with the strike being announced on state TV. A caption on screen called it ‘a mighty and successful response’ to ‘America’s aggression’ as martial music played.
The Ain al-Asad airbase housing US troops in Western Iraq was also targeted, according to an Iraqi security official.
Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said in a statement (via Associated Press): “We reassure that Qatar’s air defenses successfully thwarted the attack and intercepted the Iranian missiles.”
Qatar officials have also said that there were no casualties following the attack on the base.
Now, Trump’s administration has made it clear how they are dealing with the rapidly shifting situation.
Trump also issued a warning to Iran following the strikes over the weekend (Carlos Barria – Pool/Getty Images)
The Trump administration said in a statement: “The White House and the department of defence are aware of, and closely monitoring, potential threats.”
Trump is suspected to currently be in the White House’s situation room and intends to go ahead with a meeting of his national security team which had been scheduled for 1pm EDT (6pm BST), AP reports.
Speaking on the strike, Iran said its missile attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar matched the number of bombs dropped by the United States on Iranian nuclear sites.
The nation also noted that the bases were targeted because it was outside of populated areas.
