Iran fired missiles at a US military base in Qatar, calling it retaliation for American airstrikes on its nuclear sites over the weekend. Loud blasts shook the skies over Doha, while videos showed bright flashes as defence systems tried to intercept the missiles.
Iran targeted Al Udeid Air Base. This is the largest US base in the Middle East. Around 8,000 American troops are based there. Some British troops also serve there. Qatar said the base was evacuated before the strike. No injuries were reported. It is still unclear if the base was damaged.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility. In a statement, it also vowed to respond to any threat. It also called US bases in the region “vulnerable.”
Before the attack, the US and UK also told their citizens in Qatar to stay indoors. Qatar shut down its airspace. Reports later showed Iran had positioned missile launchers for an attack. Flight data showed planes avoiding Doha. Bahrain and Kuwait also closed their airspaces.
This missile strike followed US attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran. The US acted days after Israel began daily strikes on Iran on June 13. Israel said it wants to stop Iran from building a nuclear weapon. Iran said its nuclear programme is peaceful.
The White House has not responded to Iran’s strike. The situation in the Middle East remains tensed.
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