June 23, 2025 | Middle East Bureau
In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Iran has launched a powerful missile strike on the US-operated Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed in a statement on Monday. The strike is in retaliation for recent US airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Iranian state television reported that Tehran has officially begun a military operation against US military assets in the region, with Al Udeid Air Base — the largest American military installation in the Middle East — being the primary target.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran, relying on Almighty God and the faithful, proud people of Iran, will never leave any aggression against its territorial integrity, sovereignty, or national security unanswered,” the IRGC said in a statement carried by state media.
According to multiple sources familiar with the situation, US diplomatic and military personnel in Qatar and Bahrain have been placed in “duck and cover” positions — a standard emergency procedure activated in the event of an imminent threat — as Iranian missiles reportedly targeted both Qatar and Iraq.
American intelligence officials had been on high alert following the US airstrikes over the weekend, which targeted key Iranian nuclear development sites in what Washington claimed was a preemptive move to curb Tehran’s suspected enrichment activities.
Al Udeid Air Base, located southwest of Doha, hosts over 10,000 US troops and is a critical hub for American operations across the region. It also supports aerial missions in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.
This is the latest flashpoint in a rapidly intensifying conflict between Washington and Tehran, raising fears of a broader regional war. The United States operates at least 27 military installations across the Middle East, with 12 of them in continuous use for over a decade and a half. Military analysts have warned for months that these facilities are potential targets in the event of direct confrontation.
There has been no official comment yet from the US Department of Defense on the extent of damage or casualties from the Iranian strike. However, military aircraft have reportedly been placed on high alert, and defensive systems in the region are fully activated.
This developing story underscores the fragile security environment in the Gulf and the potential for full-scale conflict if diplomatic off-ramps are not urgently pursued.
