Qatar intercepts all but one Iranian missile on US army base; all you need to know on the 'surprise' attack

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Defence held a joint press conference on Qatar Television Tuesday in the wake of a missile strike launched from Iran toward the US Al-Udeid Airbase.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dr. Majed Al-Ansari strongly denounced the Iranian missile strike, describing it as a “surprise attack” that violated the spirit of Qatar’s longstanding efforts to mediate regional disputes, reported Doha News. However, according reports from the Iranian side, the nation had sent customary notification to Qatar ahead of its missile barage.

“We unequivocally condemn the attack on the US military base at Al-Udeid,” Al-Ansari said, noted the news outlet. “This act came despite Qatar’s continued diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in the region.”

Al-Ansari attributed the broader escalation to initial provocations elsewhere in the region, stating, “This escalation began with Israeli violations against Iran. An end must be put to such irresponsible actions before the region is pulled further into instability.”

He stressed that Qatar's mediation efforts are impartial and guided by principle. “Our role as a mediator is not tied to any specific event or interest,” Al-Ansari said. “It stems from our firm and unwavering commitment to promoting peace and dialogue in the region.”

Call for dialogue
Calling for calm and restraint, the Qatari official urged all parties to return to the negotiation table. “We call for a return to peaceful diplomacy and a resolution of conflicts through dialogue, not escalation,” he said.

Al-Ansari also sought to reassure the Qatari public that the situation was under control. “Life has returned to normal. Our air defenses worked in coordination with allies to thwart the attack. The stability and safety of the country remain intact."

“We warned since day one that this regional escalation would drag us to a dangerous turning point,” he added, referring to rising hostilities that Qatar had consistently sought to de-escalate through diplomatic channels.

Attack timeline & response
During the briefing, Shayeq Al-Hajri, Deputy Chief of Staff for Joint Operations at Qatar’s Ministry of Defence, provided a detailed account of the attack.

“At 7:30 p.m., we received intelligence indicating the launch of seven missiles from Iranian territory targeting Al-Udeid Airbase,” he said. “Qatari defense systems intercepted six of the seven missiles. One projectile landed within the airbase perimeter. Fortunately, there were no casualties.”

Moreover, the Qatari officials confirmed that a total of 19 missiles had been fired from Tehran.

According to Doha News, further clarification was offered by Jabr Al-Nuaimi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior. “The impact of the lone missile resulted in minor fires due to shrapnel. These were swiftly contained by emergency teams. There were no injuries reported,” he said.