Doha, Qatar – Iran’s missile attack on Al Udeid Air Base marks a significant escalation in regional tensions following the United States’ direct strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Located just outside Doha, Al Udeid is the largest US military base in the Middle East and a strategic hub for American and allied operations across the region. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed the strike late Monday, in what it dubbed the “Annunciation of Victory” operation, targeting the base as part of Iran’s promised retaliation.
Home to over 10,000 troops, Al Udeid hosts the US Air Force, UK’s Royal Air Force, and Qatar’s Emiri Air Force. The 24-hectare facility serves as the forward headquarters for US Central Command, overseeing military operations from North Africa to Central Asia. Qatar has invested more than $8 billion in its development, making it a pillar of Western military readiness in the Gulf. The base played a central role in past US-led campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was instrumental during the 2021 Kabul evacuation.
Before the strike, satellite imagery and US military movements suggested that Washington anticipated potential Iranian retaliation. Reports showed a dramatic reduction in visible aircraft at the base by June 19, compared to earlier images. US military officials confirmed that non-sheltered aircraft and Navy vessels had been repositioned as part of “force protection” efforts. Although Al Udeid was not used in the US’s Iran strikes, its symbolic importance made it a prime target for Iranian response.
Qatar has condemned the missile strike as a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty. The country had already taken precautionary steps earlier in the day by temporarily suspending air traffic and advising foreign nationals to shelter in place. Its Ministry of Defence said air defence systems successfully intercepted incoming missiles, and no casualties were reported. However, the attack has raised questions about further escalation, with both the US and Iran now openly targeting each other’s military infrastructure in the region.
