CNN reports that a U.S. defense official has confirmed that a volley of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles hit Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base.
Days before Iran launched a missile attack on Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base, U.S. military aircraft were moved out of the base in a dramatic demonstration of preparation and rising tensions.
Nearly empty tarmacs at the base can be seen in satellite photos taken on June 19, suggesting a proactive measure to protect priceless assets in the face of escalating Middle East conflict.
No US casualties have been reported.
The planes were relocated last week as part of a strategic move to safeguard American military personnel and equipment in the face of growing Iranian-Israeli hostilities, two defense officials told CNN. All U.S. Navy vessels that had previously been based at Naval Support Activity Bahrain also departed port, though it is unknown where they are now.
U.S. defense officials confirmed that both short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles fired from Iran were used in the missile strike on Al Udeid. There have been no reports of U.S. casualties despite the attack’s intensity. A Pentagon official stated, “At this time, there are no reports of US casualties.” “We are keeping a careful eye on this situation and will update you as more details become available.”
The Iranian missiles aimed at the American base were successfully intercepted by Qatar’s air defenses, according to the country’s defense ministry. The successful response was highlighted by Majed al-Ansari, the spokesman for Qatar’s foreign minister, who said that the country’s air defenses “successfully thwarted the attack and intercepted the Iranian missiles.” Additionally, he reassured them that there were no casualties during the strike.
“We anticipated their retaliation.”
After U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend, the Trump administration had expected Tehran to retaliate. “We knew they would retaliate,” a senior White House official told CNN. In reference to the assassination of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in 2020, they responded similarly.
Early estimates indicate that the Iranian missiles did not hit their targets despite the missile attack. President Donald Trump, however, is still ready to increase American military engagement if needed.
On Monday afternoon, the president was reportedly in the White House Situation Room getting ready for a planned meeting with his national security team. “The White House and the Department of Defense are aware of, and closely monitoring, potential threats,” the two agencies said in a joint statement.
Iran justified its missile strike by claiming that the quantity of missiles fired at Al Udeid was equal to the quantity of bombs dropped on Iranian nuclear sites by the United States. In order to prevent collateral damage, the Iranian government also asserted that it targeted military installations that were distant from civilian areas.
Trump’s initial remarks
When the president finally spoke, about an hour after the attacks on the US bases, he ignored the clear-cut events that had just taken place. Many were caught off guard by Trump’s first remarks because he made no mention of the missile strike.
Everyone is aware that the sites we struck in Iran were completely destroyed. To try to minimize them as much as possible, only the Fake News would say anything different. They even claim to have been “pretty well destroyed!” Fake News CNN’s Allison Cooper, “Con”cast Chairman Dumb Brian L. Roberts, ABC Fake News’s Jonny Karl, and, of course, the Losers of Concast’s NBC Fake News are all working particularly hard on this lie. Their ratings are at an all-time low—ZERO CREDIBILITY!—because the sleazebags in the media never stop. Trump posted on Truth Social, his own platform.