Iran Strikes US Base in Qatar

Department of Research, Studies and International News 24-06-2025

In a bold and calculated response to recent U.S. attacks on its nuclear facilities, the Islamic Republic of Iran has launched a missile strike targeting the American military installation at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. This powerful move, confirmed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), marks a significant escalation in the confrontation between Washington and Tehran and underscores Iran’s growing resolve to resist foreign provocation and defend its national sovereignty.

The operation, named Annunciation of Victory, was described by the IRGC as a “devastating and precise” missile offensive aimed squarely at the largest American military facility in the region. Tehran made it clear that this was not merely a symbolic act but a strategic and deliberate retaliation in response to what it labeled a “blatant military assault” by the U.S. on Iranian soil.

The Al Udeid Air Base, located southwest of Doha, is widely recognized as the central hub for U.S. military operations across West Asia and beyond. Housing over 10,000 troops, this base functions as the forward headquarters for U.S. Central Command. It also hosts forces from Britain and other Western allies. From Tehran’s perspective, it represents not a position of strength, but a vulnerable outpost of foreign interference in the region.

The Iranian missile strike occurred in the evening hours, with residents across Doha reporting flashes of light and distant explosions. According to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, care was taken to ensure that the missiles struck military targets and avoided populated civilian zones. The Council stressed that the action posed no threat to Qatar or its people, reaffirming Iran’s long-standing ties with the “brotherly and friendly nation” of Qatar.

In contrast, Qatari authorities swiftly condemned the strike, labeling it a breach of sovereignty and a violation of international law. Qatar’s Ministry of Defence claimed its air defence systems had intercepted several of the incoming projectiles. However, it later acknowledged that one of the 19 Iranian missiles did hit the airbase, though it caused no casualties or significant damage.

The Qatari Ministry of Interior confirmed that the situation remained under control, emphasizing that public safety is a national priority. Officials reassured residents that life in Qatar was stable and that all necessary measures had been taken to prevent any further disruption. Schools postponed their exams, embassies issued brief shelter-in-place warnings, and airspace over the country was temporarily closed before being reopened five hours later.

Meanwhile, Tehran issued a stern warning to Washington and its allies: any violation of Iran’s sovereignty will be met with a firm and strategic response. The IRGC declared that American bases in the region are “not strongholds, but weak points,” signaling a shift in how Iran intends to engage with U.S. presence in West Asia.

This operation serves as a clear message, not only to the U.S., but also to the wider Western bloc, including the Zionist regime, that Iran will not tolerate provocations that threaten its national security. While Western media and officials continue to portray Iran as an aggressor, the reality is that Iran’s actions come in defense of its sovereign rights and in the face of continued American destabilization of the region.

The alignment of Russia, China, and Iran, nations increasingly targeted by American policy and sanctions, represents a multipolar front that is reshaping global power dynamics. As the Western order continues to erode under the weight of its own contradictions, countries like Iran are standing tall, asserting their right to security, dignity, and strategic autonomy.

What unfolded in Qatar is more than a military exchange, it is a geopolitical statement. The Islamic Republic has reminded the world that the era of unchallenged Western dominance in West Asia is over, and that new centers of power, rooted in resistance and regional cooperation, are ready to confront imperial overreach.