24.06.2025 04:51
Iran's audacious missile attack on the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base near Doha, Qatar, sent shockwaves across the Gulf region on June 23, 2025, dramatically escalating the already tense conflict with Israel. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), responsible for the assault, utilized a barrage of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in an operation dubbed "Operation Glad Tidings of Victory." This bold action served as a direct and carefully calibrated response to the previous day's U.S.-led Operation Midnight Hammer, which heavily targeted Iran's nuclear facilities.
Housing approximately 10,000 U.S. personnel and functioning as the crucial forward operational center for U.S. Central Command, the Al Udeid Air Base was the target of this significant military strike. While the attack represented a clear demonstration of Iran's capacity and willingness to target high-value U.S. assets within the region, advance diplomatic warnings relayed through multiple channels to Qatari officials allowed for proactive defensive measures. This forewarning enabled Qatari air defenses to successfully intercept and neutralize all incoming missiles, resulting in zero casualties and no damage to the base infrastructure, a fact subsequently confirmed by both U.S. and Qatari defense officials.
The immediate aftermath saw the temporary closure of airspace across several key Gulf states, including Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates. This disruption to air travel added to the regional anxiety and heightened sense of instability. Simultaneously, U.S. military installations throughout Iraq and Syria were placed on high alert, anticipating potential retaliatory actions from Iranian forces or their affiliated groups. The international community reacted swiftly, with widespread condemnation, particularly from Bahrain, a close U.S. ally, along with Qatar and Saudi Arabia. These Gulf states unanimously denounced the Iranian missile attack as a blatant violation of their sovereignty, significantly worsening existing diplomatic tensions. The attack underscores a dangerous escalation in the conflict and heightened uncertainty regarding future actions.
