Iran Fires Missiles at U.S. Bases in Qatar and Iraq After Trump’s Nuclear Strikes
Tensions in the Middle East soared overnight as Iran launched multiple missiles at U.S. military bases in Qatar and Iraq, retaliating against President Donald Trump’s bombing of Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend.
At least 10 missiles were fired toward Al Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East, located near Doha, Qatar. Explosions were heard over the Qatari capital, but officials confirmed that missile defense systems intercepted the attack, with no casualties or damage reported.
Iran claimed the missile strike matched the number of U.S. bombs dropped on its nuclear facilities, signaling a calculated show of strength rather than a move toward full-scale war.
Simultaneously, Iran targeted the Ain al-Assad airbase in western Iraq, home to U.S. troops. The extent of damage or casualties at that site remains unclear.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack as a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty and international law, while Bahrain, home to the U.S. 5th Fleet, temporarily shut its airspace in response to the escalating situation.
In a televised announcement, Iran hailed the assault as a “mighty and successful response” to what it called “America’s aggression.” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian later wrote on X, “We neither initiated this war, nor do we seek it. But we will never leave an attack on great Iran unanswered.”
The strike follows a weekend of rapid escalation, with U.S. forces hitting three Iranian nuclear sites and Israel expanding its campaign to strike symbols of Iran’s theocratic regime, including a notorious Tehran prison and military headquarters linked to the suppression of protests.
As both sides trade blows, the region stands on the edge of a dangerous new phase of conflict.
