Iran retaliates with missile strikes on US base in Qatar after nuclear raids
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei looks on, in a televised message following the Israeli strikes in Tehran, Iran, June 13, 2025. Photo: Reuters/ File
Iran's military said it carried out a missile attack on the Al Udeid US airbase in Qatar on Monday after explosions were heard across Doha following Tehran's threat to retaliate for US airstrikes on its nuclear sites.
The Iranian military said the attack was "devastating and powerful" but US officials said no US personnel were killed or injured in the attack on the airbase, the largest US military installation in the Middle East.
Iran will continue its retaliation in response to US attacks, a senior Iranian official told Reuters. He added that Iran possesses the necessary rationality to pursue diplomacy—but only after punishing the aggressor. “If the United States seeks negotiations, Israeli and US attacks must stop,” he said.
However, Qatar said that the security situation was "stable". "The Ministry of Interior confirms... that the security situation in the country is stable, and there is no cause for concern," the government said in a statement.
Iran had issued threats to retaliate after US bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-busters on Iranian underground nuclear sites at the weekend, joining Israel's air war against Tehran, and President Donald Trump mooted the possibility of the Iranian government being toppled.
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Two US officials told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity, the attack was carried out using short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles.
No Iranian attacks were detected at any US military base other than in Qatar, a US military official told Reuters. The official added that there was no impact on the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
Meanwhile, military sources said air defence systems were activated at the US Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq amid concerns over a potential attack.
The main remaining US base in northeast Syria was on full alert and mobilised for possible attacks by Iran or Iran-aligned groups, a Syrian security source told Reuters. Known as Qasrak, the base is one of two US military installations in Hasakah province, where American troops are stationed.
In addition, the US Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq activated its air defence system amid concerns over a potential attack, military sources told Reuters. A senior White House official said the White House and the Defense Department are closely monitoring potential threats to Al Udeid Air Base.
▶️ More videos from Iranian missiles in the sky in Qatar
Follow: https://t.co/mLGcUTS2ei pic.twitter.com/csJNU3k3dKIran coordinated its strikes on US bases in Qatar with Qatari officials in advance to minimise casualties, the New York Times reported on Monday, citing three Iranian officials.
Qatar condemned Iran’s attack on the largest US military base in the region, located in the Gulf state, calling it a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty.
“We express the State of Qatar's strong condemnation of the attack on Al Udeid Air Base by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and consider it a flagrant violation of Qatar's sovereignty and airspace, as well as of international law,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said in a statement.
Qatar’s defence minister, quoted by Al Jazeera TV, said its air defences had intercepted missiles directed at Al Udeid, the largest US military installation in the Middle East, located across the Gulf from Iran. Qatari authorities confirmed there were no casualties in the attack, which they condemned.
Qatar said it reserves the right to respond directly and in accordance with international law after Iran targeted the US Al Udeid military base in Doha. The Iranian strike came in retaliation for a US attack on its nuclear facilities.
Shortly before, Qatar announced the temporary closure of its airspace to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. This came after the US embassy in Qatar advised American citizens to shelter in place “out of an abundance of caution.”
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Saudi Arabia lambasted Iran for its "unjustifiable" attack on a US base in Qatar, offering to deploy "all its capabilities" to support Doha, with whom it has had fraught relations in the past.
Riyadh said it "condemns and denounces in the strongest terms the aggression launched by Iran against the sisterly State of Qatar... This is unacceptable and unjustifiable under any circumstances. The Kingdom affirms its solidarity and full support for... Qatar and offers all its capabilities to support the sisterly State of Qatar in any measures it takes," Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
The United Arab Emirates also strongly condemned the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s targeting of Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, calling it a blatant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and airspace, as well as a breach of international law and the United Nations Charter.
“The UAE reaffirms its unequivocal rejection of any aggression that endangers Qatar’s security and undermines regional stability,” the statement read.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed full solidarity with Qatar and pledged unwavering support for all measures aimed at protecting the safety and security of its citizens and residents.
“The Ministry also emphasises the urgent need to de-escalate militarily, warning that continued provocative actions risk destabilising regional security and could lead the region down a dangerous path with potentially catastrophic consequences for international peace and stability,” the statement added.
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Earlier on Monday, Israel bombed a jail for political prisoners in Tehran, signalling an expansion of its targets beyond military and nuclear sites to strike at key pillars of Iran’s ruling system.
Despite Iran’s threats to disrupt oil shipments from the Gulf, oil prices remained largely steady, suggesting traders doubt Iran will follow through on actions that would affect global supply.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow as Tehran sought support from one of its last major allies ahead of its next moves.
Iran’s armed forces warned on Monday of “serious, unpredictable consequences” for the United States in response to the airstrikes on three nuclear sites.
Separately, on Sunday, the US State Department advised Americans worldwide to “exercise increased caution” due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
Following Israel’s initial strikes on Iran on June 13, the US embassy in Qatar had already urged staff and American citizens to “exercise increased caution” and limit non-essential travel to Al Udeid Air Base.