Iran launched multiple missiles toward a U.S. air base in Qatar Monday in retaliation for US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend, but Qatar’s air defenses intercepted all but one of the missiles.
Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar was attacked “by short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles originating from Iran,” according to a US defense official. Iranian officials reportedly gave Qatar advance notice of the attack before launching the missiles to minimize casualties and preserve an off-ramp from the hostilities.
Nevertheless, Qatar condemned the attack, calling it “a flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and airspace.”
On Truth Social Monday, President Trump said that no one was harmed in the attacks and that he was glad to see Iran get its need to respond to the U.S. missile strikes “out of their system.”
Trump said 14 missiles were fired and 13 were successfully intercepted. He explained that the remaining missile was left alone because it wasn’t heading toward any discernable target.
Iran has officially responded to our Obliteration of their Nuclear Facilities with a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered. There have been 14 missiles fired — 13 were knocked down, and 1 was “set free,” because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction. I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done. Most importantly, they’ve gotten it all out of their “system,” and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE. I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured. Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
In a subsequent post, Trump expressed his gratitude toward the Emir of Qatar for the work he’s done to advance peace in the region.
“I’d like to thank the Highly Respected Emir of Qatar for all that he has done in seeking Peace for the Region,” Trump said. “Regarding the attack today at the American Base in Qatar, I am pleased to report that, in addition to no Americans being killed or wounded, very importantly, there have also been no Qataris killed or wounded. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Following the attack, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Iran “will never leave any aggression against its territorial integrity, sovereignty, or national security unanswered.” The secretariat of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said that it was still committed to maintaining warm relations with Qatar and noted that the strikes were “far away from urban installations and residential areas.”
In anticipation of the attack, the Trump administration reportedly moved non-sheltered American planes out of the Al Udeid Air Base last week.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued a National Terrorism Advisory Alert for the United States on Sunday, saying that if Iranian leaders issue a call for retaliation, it could increase the chances of violence by Iranian supporters in the U.S.
“The ongoing Iran conflict is causing a heightened threat environment in the United States. Low-level cyber attacks against U.S. networks by pro-Iranian hacktivists are likely, and cyber actors affiliated with the Iranian government may conduct attacks against U.S. networks. Iran also has a long-standing commitment to target U.S. Government officials it views as responsible for the death of an Iranian military commander killed in January 2020,“ Noem stated.
“The likelihood of violent extremists in the Homeland independently mobilizing to violence in response to the conflict would likely increase if Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against targets in the Homeland. Multiple recent Homeland terrorist attacks have been motivated by anti-Semitic or anti-Israel sentiment, and the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could contribute to U.S.-based individuals plotting additional attacks,“ she added.