Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
Missile attack details
The attack came in two waves: the first volley included seven missiles, all intercepted by Qatar’s air defenses. The second volley consisted of 11 missiles, with only one hitting the base. Qatar’s Interior Ministry said debris landing in residential areas was cleared safely.
U.S. President Donald Trump said 14 missiles were fired in total, 13 intercepted, and one allowed to fall harmlessly because it posed no threat. This count differs from Qatar’s military, which reported 18 missiles launched.
The Pentagon confirmed the U.S. air defenses at Al-Udeid successfully responded to the threat. The base was briefly on high alert, with videos showing smoke near its perimeter.
Iran claims retaliation
Iranian Armed Forces claimed responsibility, describing the strike as a “destructive and powerful” response to recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said the base was targeted away from civilian areas and reiterated Tehran’s commitment to maintaining good relations with Qatar.
Regional and international reactions
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strike as a “blatant violation” of its sovereignty and expressed surprise at the attack. Several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, and Morocco, strongly condemned the missile attack, calling it a breach of international law and a threat to regional stability.
The United Nations also condemned the strike, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warning it risks further destabilization and urging restraint.
Conflicting accounts and calls for peace
President Trump confirmed no Americans were harmed and thanked Iran for what he said was early notification of the strike, which helped prevent casualties. However, Qatar and regional countries said they were surprised by the attack, indicating differing accounts on any prior warnings.
Trump called for de-escalation and urged Iran and Israel to pursue “peace and harmony.” The U.S. Embassy in Qatar lifted its shelter-in-place order and will reopen Tuesday.
Flights and daily life continue
Despite the tensions, Emirates Airlines said flights would continue on adjusted routes away from conflict zones. Qatar reported no disruptions to civil aviation or infrastructure beyond the brief alert at the air base.
The Taliban leadership in Afghanistan opted out of a major regional meeting held in Iran’s capital Tehran on Sunday....
China has announced plans to fully cover childbirth-related costs for families as authorities move to incentivise young couples to have more children....
Oil prices are rising worldwide as investors assess supply risks linked to growing tensions between the United States and Venezuela after the former s...
UNESCO is preparing to celebrate the first ever World Turkic Language Family Day on 15 December, following a decision by UNESCO’s General Conference...
Azerbaijan and Pakistan are bolstering bilateral ties and cooperation across energy, defence, trade and regional connectivity. This was highlighted at...
China has announced plans to fully cover childbirth-related costs for families as authorities move to incentivise young couples to have more children.
The Taliban leadership in Afghanistan opted out of a major regional meeting held in Iran’s capital Tehran on Sunday.
Australia vowed stricter gun laws on Monday as it began mourning victims of its worst mass shooting in almost 30 years, in which police accused a father-and-son duo of killing 16 people at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
Oil prices are rising worldwide as investors assess supply risks linked to growing tensions between the United States and Venezuela after the former seized an oil tanker Skipper on 10 December, a move Caracas calls “international piracy”.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated his offer to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Ankara, at his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The talks took place on the sidelines of the international Forum for Peace and Trust in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Friday (12 December).
Russia’s human rights commissioner, Tatyana Moskalkova, has said that Ukraine has not provided Moscow with a list of thousands of children it alleges were taken illegally to Russia, despite the issue being discussed during talks in Istanbul.
Iranian authorities have seized a foreign tanker carrying more than 6 million litres of smuggled fuel in the Sea of Oman, detaining all 18 crew members on board.
An explosive device found in a vehicle linked to one of the alleged attackers in Bondi shooting has been secured and removed according to Police. The incident left 12 people dead.
The latest round of clashes between Thailand and Cambodia has left 15 Thai soldiers dead and 270 others injured, Thailand’s Ministry of Defence spokesman Surasant Kongsiri said at a press conference on Saturday.
The Taliban leadership in Afghanistan opted out of a major regional meeting held in Iran’s capital Tehran on Sunday.
UNESCO is preparing to celebrate the first ever World Turkic Language Family Day on 15 December, following a decision by UNESCO’s General Conference in Samarkand establishing the date as an annual observance.
Azerbaijan and Pakistan are bolstering bilateral ties and cooperation across energy, defence, trade and regional connectivity. This was highlighted at a high-level meeting of the two countries’ foreign ministers in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Sunday, 14 December.
Iranian authorities have seized a foreign tanker carrying more than 6 million litres of smuggled fuel in the Sea of Oman, detaining all 18 crew members on board.
The Israeli military said Raed Saed, described as one of the architects of the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, was killed on Saturday when a vehicle was hit in Gaza City.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment