What we find out about Iran’s assault on US base in Qatar

Iran launched missiles at a US army base in Qatar on Monday, in what it mentioned was retaliation for American strikes towards its nuclear websites over the weekend.

Witnesses reported listening to loud bangs within the sky above the capital, Doha, whereas movies confirmed brilliant flashes within the sky as air defence techniques tried to intercept missiles.

Donald Trump described the assault as “very weak” and “anticipated”, and urged peace within the area might proceed.

On Tuesday, the US president introduced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran had come into impact.

Here’s what we all know.

Iranian missiles focused the most important US army base within the Center East, Al-Udeid, in what it mentioned was a response to the US bombing three of its nuclear programme services on Saturday night.

Al-Udeid is dwelling to the US army’s headquarters for all air operations within the area. Some British army personnel additionally serve there on rotation.

The assault was first confirmed by Iranian state media, and later by the army.

A press release from the IRGC, probably the most highly effective department of the Iranian army, mentioned that “Iran won’t depart any assault on its sovereignty unanswered”, and added: “US bases within the area usually are not strengths however vulnerabilities.”

The US had beforehand warned Iran not to reply to its strikes on nuclear services and urged leaders in Tehran to conform to a diplomatic finish to hostilities within the area.

There have been differing reviews about what number of missiles have been fired. Iran mentioned six, the US mentioned 14, and Qatar was reported by Reuters as saying 19 – all of which, it added, have been intercepted.

Nobody has been reported killed or injured.

Within the hours earlier than the assault, each the US and UK had suggested their residents in Qatar to “shelter in place”. About 8,000 US residents reside in Qatar, in line with the State Division, in addition to a number of thousand British residents.

It grew to become obvious quickly afterwards that Iran had given warning that it was getting ready to launch missiles. Three Iranian officers quoted by the New York Occasions mentioned that Tehran had instructed Doha of its intentions, as a technique to minimise casualties.

In his first feedback within the aftermath, President Donald Trump thanked Iran “for giving us early discover, which made it potential for no lives to be misplaced, and no one to be injured”.

He branded the assault “very weak” – no Individuals have been harmed and little or no harm was carried out, he mentioned. “They’ve gotten all of it out of their system,” he added and mentioned there was now an opportunity for “peace”.

Nonetheless, a spokesman for Qatar’s international ministry mentioned the assault was a “shock” and a “flagrant violation of its sovereignty”, and added that Qatar “was one of many first nations to warn towards the hazards of Israeli escalation within the area”.

Iran’s supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the meantime mentioned that Iran didn’t hurt anybody within the assault however that his nation wouldn’t “undergo anybody’s violation”.

“We’ve got not violated anybody, and we’ll by no means settle for being violated by anybody. We won’t undergo anybody’s violation; that is the logic of the Iranian nation,” he mentioned on X (as translated by BBC Persian).

On Tuesday, Israel publicly agreed to Trump’s ceasefire proposal whereas Iran mentioned it could solely cease its assaults if Israel did the identical.

Iranian state media introduced the nation had fired “a final spherical of missiles” in the direction of Israel earlier than the ceasefire started.

In the meantime, the Israeli authorities issued a warning to Iran: “Israel will reply forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire.”

There have been indications on Monday that the US suspected Iran was getting ready to launch missiles into Qatar.

Hours earlier than the assault, Qatar mentioned it was briefly closing its airspace, shortly after the US and UK instructed residents in Qatar to “shelter in place”.

These warnings didn’t give a transparent indication an assault was imminent: the US mentioned it issued the order “out of an abundance of warning”, whereas the UK mentioned it was following the lead of the Individuals.

Nevertheless, round an hour earlier than the assault, the BBC discovered of “a reputable risk” to the bottom.

Individually, some US media retailers quoted nameless US officers as saying Iranian missile launchers had been positioned for a possible launch in the direction of Qatar.

Flight monitoring web sites confirmed planes had already began diverting to different airports earlier than the launch. In keeping with Flightradar24, there have been 100 flights certain for Doha shortly earlier than missile launches have been detected.

Hamad Worldwide Airport is among the world’s prime 10 busiest for worldwide visitors, with round 140,000 passengers passing by means of per day.

Different nations within the area, together with Bahrain and Kuwait, additionally closed their airspace for a quick interval.

The US launched huge strikes towards three nuclear services inside Iran on Saturday.

That got here after days of uncertainty over whether or not the US would be part of Israel’s army motion towards Iran, which began on 13 June.

Israel has been launching every day missile strikes towards nuclear and army services inside Iran, which its authorities says are vital to stop Iran from imminently constructing a nuclear weapon.

Successive Israeli and American governments have sought to stop Iran from buying a nuclear weapon. Iran has at all times maintained its intensive nuclear programme is for civilian functions.

The US claimed its strikes badly broken Iran’s nuclear programme, although the total extent of their affect stays unclear.

Assaults between Iran and Israel additionally continued on Sunday and Monday earlier than the ceasefire took impact.