Muscat [Oman], June 24: The Middle East edged dangerously closer to wider conflict on Monday after Iran reportedly fired a barrage of missiles at US military installations in Qatar and Iraq, including Al Udeid Air Base - the largest American military facility in the region.
According to multiple media reports, the Iranian attack came in retaliation for US airstrikes that targeted Iranian nuclear facilities early Sunday, in what is now one of the most serious escalations between Tehran and Washington in recent years.
In a statement released by Iranian state media on Monday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the strike, declaring that it had launched a "devastating and powerful missile attack" under Operation Besharat Fatah.
"The Al Udeid base, the headquarters of the US Air Force and the largest strategic asset of the US terrorist army in the Middle East, has been targeted with the sacred code of Aba Abdullah Al-Hussein (PBUH)," the statement read.
Iranian military officials warned that any violation of the country's territorial integrity, sovereignty, or national security "will not go unanswered under any circumstances," directly addressing the United States and its allies.
The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs swiftly condemned the attack, calling it a "blatant violation" of its sovereignty, airspace, international law, and the UN Charter.
The Ministry confirmed that the base had been evacuated prior to the strike as a precaution, and that Qatari air defences had successfully intercepted the missiles. No casualties or injuries were reported.
"We express the State of Qatar's strong condemnation of the attack on Al Udeid Air Base by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)," the ministry said in a strongly worded statement posted on X.
"Qatar affirms its right to respond directly in a manner proportional to the nature and scale of this blatant aggression, and in accordance with international law."
The statement added that "all necessary measures were taken to ensure the safety of personnel at the base, including members of the Qatari Armed Forces, allied forces, and others."
The Qatari government also announced the temporary closure of its airspace amid escalating regional tensions along with Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE and Iraq.
Source: Times of Oman
