Explosions were heard over Qatar’s capital, Doha, on Monday after Iran launched a missile attack on the U.S.-run Al Udeid Air Base, escalating tensions following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend, according to multiple sources.

Western officials told Axios that Iran fired six missiles toward at least one U.S. base in Qatar, with an Israeli official adding that one missile was also launched toward a U.S. base in Iraq. A Reuters witness reported several explosions in Doha, following Iran’s threats to retaliate for U.S. airstrikes on its Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites on Sunday.

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The Al Udeid Air Base, located just outside Doha, is the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East and serves as the forward headquarters for U.S. Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the region. It also hosts British military personnel on rotation, and the Royal Air Force’s operational headquarters are in the Middle East. Satellite imagery shows that the U.S. moved more than a dozen planes from the base in recent weeks, amid fears of Iranian reprisals following Israel’s ongoing conflict with Iran.

U.S. officials had earlier warned of a “credible threat” to the base, with The Wall Street Journal reporting that Iran was positioning missile launchers for a potential attack on American forces.

A senior White House official told Axios, “The White House and the Department of Defense are aware of, and closely monitoring, potential threats to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.”

President Donald Trump, who was scheduled to meet with his national security team at 1 p.m. ET Monday in Washington, D.C., warned on Sunday that any Iranian retaliation “will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed” during the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites. The scope of Iran’s attack, particularly any casualties, will likely shape Trump’s response and determine whether the U.S. becomes further entangled in the Israel-Iran conflict.
An Iranian military spokesman, in a video statement on Monday, declared that the U.S. strikes had “expanded the scope of legitimate targets” for Iran’s armed forces, adding, “Mr. Trump, the gambler: You may have started this war, but we will be the ones to end it.” The spokesman warned of “heavy consequences” for the U.S. actions.

Qatar announced Monday evening that it was temporarily closing its airspace as a precautionary measure amid rising regional tensions, according to the Qatari foreign ministry. The U.S., U.K., and China issued advisories urging their citizens in Qatar to shelter in place. The Qatari foreign ministry described the closure as part of efforts to ensure the safety of residents and visitors.

In recent weeks, the U.S. evacuated many aircraft and personnel from Al Udeid, with satellite imagery confirming significant reductions in assets at the base. These moves followed heightened concerns over Iranian retaliation after the U.S. joined Israel in targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
The international community is closely watching the situation, with fears growing of a broader regional conflict. No immediate reports of casualties or damage from the missile strikes in Qatar or Iraq were available as of the time of publication.