NewzVille International
Iran launched ballistic missile attacks on Monday against the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which hosts US and allied forces, in what Tehran described as retaliation for recent American bombing of its nuclear facilities. The primary target was Al Udeid, the largest US military installation in West Asia, located southwest of Doha. There are also reports indicating that  Iran has targeted the Ain al-Assad base in Iraq.
Qatari and US officials reported no casualties from the attacks, as Qatar stated the base had been evacuated earlier as a precautionary measure due to rising regional tensions and its air defense systems successfully intercepted the incoming missiles.
A US defense official confirmed that Al Udeid Air Base was attacked by short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles originating from Iran, stating that there were no reports of US casualties at the time. The attack occurred hours after Qatar closed its airspace and the US Embassy directed American nationals to shelter in place. Observers witnessed a battle between interceptors and incoming ballistic missiles in the sky over Qatar.
US officials have confirmed that none of the ballistic missiles fired by Iran struck inside Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar – a clear indication of the effectiveness of both intelligence and defensive systems in place.
The missile attack, however, has drawn sharp condemnation from across West Asia and beyond. Countries including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Yemen, and the Palestinian Authority have all denounced Iran’s strike on the Qatari-based facility.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s Ministry of Interior has assured residents that the security situation remains stable. The US State Department also  issued an updated travel alert for Kuwait, citing the volatile situation.
The crisis has sent shockwaves in the aviation industry. Air India has announced the immediate suspension of all operations to West Asia. In response to the growing tensions, precautionary advisories were issued, Â the Indian Embassy in Qatar has urged its the Indian diaspora to stay indoors, remain calm, and closely follow updates from Qatari authorities.
Meanwhile, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE have reopened their airspaces after temporarily closing them in response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack on the air base in Qatar.
The US State Department issued an updated travel alert for Kuwait, citing the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. Â Â Â The alert revealed that the US Embassy had advised personnel to exercise increased vigilance and instructed mission staff to comply with temporary restrictions on access to Camp Arifjan, Camp Buehring, Ali Al Salem Air Base, and Camp Patriot, limiting access to essential personnel only. The restrictions underscore growing concerns about the conflict’s potential to spread throughout the strategically vital region that serves as a crucial hub for international military and commercial operations.
