Iran launches missiles at US bases in Qatar and Iraq in response to strikes

 Iran has launched missiles at US airbases in Qatar and Iraq in response to strikes on its nuclear sites on Saturday, state media reports

Qatar confirms the attack on the US-run Al Udeid base, calling it a “flagrant violation” and says it reserves the right to respond directly

The country has temporarily closed its airspace and US and UK citizens have been advised to shelter in place. In Washington, Donald Trump is attending a National Security Council meeting shortly, after the White House earlier said he was “simply raising a question” in floating the idea of regime change in Iran.

It comes as Israel says it is targeting Tehran with “unprecedented force”, including attacks on “access routes” to the Fordo nuclear site and Evin prison.

Qatar ‘strongly condemns’ attack on US air base

Qatar’s government has offered its “strong condemnation” of the attack on the al-Udeid Air Base.

Majed al-Ansari, official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, writes on X: “We consider this a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, its airspace, international law, and the United Nations charter.”

He says Qatar’s air defense systems “successfully thwarted the attack and intercepted the Iranian missiles” and the base had been evacuated earlier.

He adds: “All necessary steps were taken to ensure the safety of personnel at the base, including Qatari Armed Forces members, friendly forces, and others.

“We confirm that no injuries or human casualties resulted from the attack.”

The spokesperson says Qatar reserves the right to respond “in a manner equivalent with the nature and scale of this brazen aggression”.