Iranian missiles targeted the largest US military base in the Middle East, Al-Udeid, in what it said was a response to the US bombing three of its nuclear programme facilities on Saturday evening.
Al-Udeid is home to the US military’s headquarters for all air operations in the region. Some British military personnel also serve there on rotation.
Iran launches missiles at US base in Qatar in response to strikes
The attack was first confirmed by Iranian state media, and later by the military.
A statement from the IRGC, the most powerful branch of the Iranian military, said that “Iran will not leave any attack on its sovereignty unanswered”, and added: “US bases in the region are not strengths but vulnerabilities.”
The US had previously warned Iran not to respond to its strikes on nuclear facilities and urged leaders in Tehran to agree to a diplomatic end to hostilities in the region.
There were differing reports about how many missiles were fired. Iran said six, the US said 14, and Qatar was reported by Reuters as saying 19 – all of which, it added, were intercepted.
No one has been reported killed or injured.
In the hours before the attack, both the US and UK had advised their citizens in Qatar to “shelter in place”. About 8,000 US citizens live in Qatar, according to the State Department, as well as several thousand British citizens.