Monday, June 23, 2025-HAN
Tehran / Doha – Iran announced on Monday that it had launched a missile attack targeting U.S.
military personnel at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, escalating already heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington in the Gulf region.
According to a statement broadcast by Iranian state media, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) carried out what it called a “precision strike” in retaliation for what it described as “continued U.S. interference and military provocations” in the region. The IRGC claimed the attack was aimed at American forces and assets deployed at the base.
While Iranian officials did not provide specifics regarding the type of missiles used or the number of projectiles launched, sources close to Iran’s military apparatus suggested short-range ballistic missiles were involved. The statement did not mention any confirmed casualties but claimed “severe damage” had been inflicted on U.S. military infrastructure at the base.
Al Udeid Air Base, located southwest of the Qatari capital Doha, houses thousands of U.S. troops and serves as a key operational hub for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), coordinating military activities across the Middle East and parts of South Asia.
Security analysts warn that if confirmed, the strike would mark a major escalation in regional hostilities and risk drawing in other Gulf states. “A direct strike on U.S. personnel based in Qatar, if verified, crosses a significant line and will likely provoke a military and diplomatic response,” said Michael Hanna, a senior fellow at the International Crisis Group.
This alleged attack follows weeks of rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran, including increased naval activity in the Strait of Hormuz, drone incidents over Iraq and Syria, and a cyberattack that Tehran attributed to the U.S. earlier this month.
The international community is urging restraint. The United Nations called for “immediate de-escalation,” while European Union officials said they are in close contact with both U.S. and Iranian counterparts to prevent a broader conflict.
