Qatar’s air defense forces, working in close coordination with the United States military, successfully intercepted a barrage of Iranian ballistic missiles targeting Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American military installation in the Middle East. The attempted missile strike came in retaliation for recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities carried out under Operation Midnight Hammer.
According to officials from both countries, the missiles were launched late Sunday night, but nearly all were intercepted in the air before reaching their target. One missile reportedly impacted the ground near the base but caused no casualties or significant damage. The U.S. confirmed that no injuries were reported and base operations remained unaffected.
The interception was made possible by Qatar’s sophisticated and layered missile defense system. Over the past decade, the country has invested heavily in modern air defense, acquiring long-range Patriot systems, medium-range NASAMS, short-range systems like Rapier and Roland, and portable units such as Stinger and Mistral. Qatar is also in the process of deploying the U.S.-made THAAD system as part of a $42 billion arms agreement.
In anticipation of rising regional tensions, Qatar had closed its airspace just hours before the missile attack. U.S. forces had already repositioned several aircraft away from Al Udeid, although personnel remained on-site. Following the interception, U.S. President Donald Trump described Iran’s response as “very weak” and noted that U.S. and allied defenses had effectively neutralized the threat.
Iran claimed responsibility for the missile launch, naming it “Operation Glad Tidings of Victory,” but their assertion that multiple missiles struck the base was contradicted by U.S. and Qatari sources. The attack marks a critical demonstration of Qatar’s growing defense capabilities and its strategic partnership with the United States in maintaining regional stability.
As of now, no further escalation has been reported, but airspace restrictions across the Gulf remain in effect as tensions continue to simmer.
- Business Insider