CNN has reported that senior Qatari officials were in a meeting with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss ways to de-escalate the conflict between Iran and Israel when staff from Qatar’s Ministry of Defence urgently called to warn of incoming Iranian missiles.
According to CNN, citing Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari, the Iranian attack came unexpectedly. Early warning systems and intelligence indicated that Iranian missile batteries had been repositioned toward Qatar earlier that day, but confirmation only came shortly before the strike.
A Qatari official familiar with the country’s defensive operations told CNN, “As the attack approached, it became clear that their missile systems were ready. We had a clear picture about an hour before the strike that Al Udeid Air Base would be targeted.”
Al Ansari explained that Qatari officials were notified by the Qatari military at around 7 PM local time that Iranian missiles had been launched toward Al Udeid, the largest US military base in the Middle East.
CNN reported that Qatar’s armed forces swiftly deployed 300 military personnel and activated Qatari Patriot missile batteries at two sites to intercept 19 Iranian missiles.
While the operation was coordinated with the United States, it was led by Qatari forces on the ground. According to the source, seven missiles were intercepted before crossing into Qatari airspace, while eleven were shot down over Doha without causing any damage. One missile landed in an uninhabited area within Al Udeid, causing minor damage.
Al Ansari added that Doha received intelligence from Washington but did not get any direct warning from Iran before the strike. He noted, “The Iranians told us months ago that if US forces attacked Iranian territory, any bases hosting US troops in the region would become legitimate targets.”
He stressed, “We do not take any missile attack on our country lightly — from any party. We will never use our population or our airspace as pawns in political manoeuvres. This was a complete surprise to us.”
According to CNN, in the moments after the attack, former US President Donald Trump called Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to inform him that Israel was prepared to agree to a ceasefire and requested Qatar’s assistance in persuading Iran to do the same. A parallel message from the US said the ceasefire was a potential path toward regional security.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the Iranian missile strike on Al Udeid, describing it as a flagrant violation of Qatari sovereignty, airspace, and international law. The Ministry affirmed that Qatar “reserves the right to respond in a manner proportionate to the nature and scale of this blatant aggression, in line with international law.”
Qatar’s Ministry of Defence stated that its air defences successfully intercepted the missile barrage targeting Al Udeid Air Base. “Thanks to God, the vigilance of the armed forces, and precautionary measures, there were no fatalities or injuries,” the statement added.
