Iran launched missiles at US military bases in Qatar and Iraq on Monday evening, official media reported, in what state TV called a “powerful” response to recent American strikes on key nuclear sites.
“The operation of Iranian missiles against American bases located in Qatar and in Iraq has begun, and is called ‘Blessing of Victory’,” the official press agency IRNA said. AFP journalists reported hearing explosions in Doha, the capital of Qatar, home to the largest US base in the region.
Explosions could be heard across Doha on Monday evening, according to AFP journalists, shortly after Qatar closed its airspace, citing regional developments following US strikes on Iran.
The blasts could be heard in central Doha and in Lusail north of the Qatari capital, and projectiles could be seen moving across the night sky. Iran said attack on US base does not ‘pose any threat’ to Qatar.
Qatar says ‘successfully intercepted’ missiles targeting US base
Qatar said it had successfully intercepted an Iranian missile attack Monday on the United States’ Al Udeid base, the largest US military facility in the Middle East.
Qatar condemned the attack and called it a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty.
“The Ministry of Defense announced that Qatari air defenses successfully intercepted a missile attack targeting Al Udeid Air Base,” it said in a statement, adding that “the incident did not result in any deaths or injuries”.
“We express the State of Qatar’s strong condemnation of the attack on Al Udeid Air Base by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, and consider it a flagrant violation of the State of Qatar’s sovereignty and airspace, as well as of international law,” foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said in a statement.
Iran’s armed forces chief of staff Abdolrahim Mousavi vowed on Monday that the country would take “firm action” in response to US strikes on key nuclear sites.
“This crime and desecration will not go unanswered,” said Mousavi in a video statement published on state TV, adding that “we will take firm action against the American mistake”.
In a fiery speech at the UN Security Council’s (UNSC) emergency session, Iranian envoy Amir-Saeid Iravani strongly condemned the recent U.S. and Israeli military actions, calling them violations of international law and threats to regional peace.
“We will respond appropriately to the American aggression. This is not the first time our sovereignty has been violated.”
Accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of hijacking U.S. foreign policy, Iranian envoy said America has once again risked its own security for Netanyahu’s ambitions.
The Iranian representative noted this was the third time he had addressed the UNSC following Israeli attacks on Iran and highlighted that Iran had repeatedly warned the US to stay out of war.
Pakistan condemns strikes on Iranian nuclear sites at UNSC
Pakistan has strongly condemned Israel’s unilateral strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities safeguarded by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), terming the actions unlawful and provocative.
Speaking at an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad expressed regret that international calls for de-escalation and dialogue have gone unheeded.
