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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.
Saudi civil defence sent an all-clear on Saturday after issuing alerts for a second time for potential danger in Riyadh and the city of Al-Kharj east of the capital, amid an uptick in attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis on the Gulf country.
Houthi attacks target Riyadh amid concerns over Saudi oil supplies, as Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are met and U.S. commitments are implemented, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday.
The U.S. State Department approved a $2.7 billion military sale to Ukraine for air-defence development upgrades, along with related equipment and services, the department said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported at least 10 people had died in Russian attacks over the last 24 hours.
The death toll from an overnight Russian attack on the Kyiv region rose to four, including three children, Kyiv regional authorities said on Sunday. A mother and her two 3-year-old children were killed when a Russian drone strike hit a private home, the emergency service said.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that additional news organisations could be barred from the White House, hours after announcing bans on CNN, MS NOW and Politico over coverage he described as “fake news”.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has cleared the criminal record of former soldier Elor Azaria, who was convicted of manslaughter for shooting dead a wounded Palestinian in the West Bank in 2016.
Saudi civil defence sent an all-clear on Saturday after issuing alerts for a second time for potential danger in Riyadh and the city of Al-Kharj east of the capital, amid an uptick in attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis on the Gulf country.
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The death toll in a suicide attack at a police compound in northwest Pakistan has reached 31, AFP reported on Saturday, citing a police official.
Azerbaijan has rejected France’s justification for advising its citizens against travel to the country, after Paris cited risks of arbitrary detention and unfair trials.
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