In a dramatic escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, Iran has fired six ballistic missiles at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar—the United States’ largest military installation in the region—following recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
According to the Daily Mail, the early Monday morning assault was launched as a direct response to the bombing of Iran’s critical nuclear infrastructure ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump over the weekend.
The heavily fortified Al Udeid base, which houses more than 10,000 U.S. troops and over 100 aircraft—including strategic bombers and aerial refuelling tankers—was placed on high alert before the strike. Defence systems were activated following intelligence of a “credible threat.”
Air raid sirens were simultaneously triggered across other U.S. installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq, reflecting heightened regional readiness and raising fears of a broader conflict.
A senior Iranian official, speaking to regional media, issued a stern warning: “The U.S. will directly bear the consequences of its reckless aggression. This is no longer about Israel—they cannot hide behind Tel Aviv anymore. We are prepared for sustained confrontation, even if it takes two years.”
In a strongly worded statement, Iran’s mission to the United Nations blamed the United States, Israel, the United Kingdom, France, and the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the anticipated civilian casualties inside Iran, vowing that “all will be held accountable.”
Meanwhile, diplomatic movements have intensified. SaharaReporters and Reuters confirm that Iran has reached out to Moscow for deeper strategic support. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, dispatched Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi to the Kremlin with a personal letter addressed to President Vladimir Putin. The letter reportedly seeks enhanced Russian backing amid what Tehran perceives as an imminent, full-blown confrontation with the West.
Despite denouncing Israel’s recent regional airstrikes, President Putin has yet to issue a direct response to the U.S. attack on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Last week, he called for restraint and offered to mediate, though Iranian sources suggest Tehran views Russia’s stance as insufficient given the gravity of current events.
The situation follows weeks of rising tensions and increasingly aggressive rhetoric from both the U.S. and Israeli leadership, including suggestions of pursuing regime change in Tehran and even targeting Ayatollah Khamenei himself.
The latest missile strike marks a dangerous turning point in what could spiral into a prolonged and multi-theatre conflict with global ramifications.
