Wikipedia

2025 Iranian strikes on Al Udeid Air Base

Operation Glad Tidings of Victory
Part of the Iran–Israel war
2025 Iranian strikes on Al Udeid Air Base is located in Qatar
Al Udeid Air Base
Al Udeid Air Base
2025 Iranian strikes on Al Udeid Air Base (Qatar)
Location
Al Udeid Air Base, Doha, Qatar

25°7′N 51°18′E / 25.117°N 51.300°E / 25.117; 51.300
Planned by Iran
ObjectiveRetaliatory strikes against the United States due to Operation Midnight Hammer
Date23 June 2025 (2025-06-23)
approximately 19:39 (AST)
Executed by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
OutcomePer Iran:[1][2]
  • 6 missiles hit successfully

Per Qatar:[3]

  • 6 missiles intercepted, 1 impacted
Casualties0 (per Qatar and United States)[3]

On 23 June 2025,[a] Iran launched missiles at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, in retaliation for the United States strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on 22 June as part of the Iran–Israel war.[4][5] The attack, codenamed Operation Glad Tidings of Victory,[6][b] followed a 16 June drone attack by Iran on the US consulate in Erbil, Iraq.[7] It was Iran's second strike on a US base, after Operation Martyr Soleimani in 2020.[8][9] Iran warned Qatar and the US hours before the attack, as it had before its response to the assassination of Qasem Soleimani.[10][11] Shortly after, the Taji military base and Imam Ali base in Iraq were both attacked by drones.[12]

Qatar had closed its airspace before the missiles arrived, and claimed to have intercepted all of them.[13] After the attack, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq also closed their airspaces.[14][15] The attack was met with condemnation throughout the Arab world.

Background

[edit]
Main articles: Background to the Iran–Israel war, United States strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, and Iran–Israel war

In March 2025, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified that the US intelligence community "continues to assess Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorized a nuclear weapons program".[16] US intelligence said Iran could develop a bomb in seven months to a year.[17] Iranian officials have consistently said their nuclear efforts are for peaceful purposes, not weapons.[18] In April 2025, Trump launched negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, declaring that Tehran had two months to secure a deal.[19] On 10 June 2025, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Michael Kurilla said that Iran could produce weapons-grade uranium in a week. On 12 June, the last day of Trump's two-month deadline, the IAEA found Iran non-compliant with its nuclear obligations for the first time in 20 years.[20] On 13 June 2025, Israel attacked Iran's nuclear facilities and assassinated various military leaders, saying that Iran's nuclear program was a threat.[21][22]

On 22 June 2025, the United States Air Force and Navy attacked three nuclear sites in Iran: the Fordow Uranium Enrichment Plant, the Natanz Nuclear Facility, and the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center. These were struck by 14 GBU-57A/B MOP 30,000-pound (14,000 kg) "bunker buster" bombs dropped by Northrop B-2 Spirit stealth bombers; a US submarine also fired Tomahawk missiles. Dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, the it was United States's first offensive military action in the Iran–Israel war.[23][24][25]

Prelude

[edit]

On 23 June 2025, reports emerged that Iran had positioned missile launchers for a potential retaliatory strike.[26] Iran gave advance warning to Qatar and the US hours before the attack.[27][28][29][30]

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) closed its airspace to inbound flights from the west, while Iran closed its airspace to all but flights with special permission to operate.[31]

US warplanes began evacuating Qatar's Al-Udeid Air Base, which serves as the regional headquarters for United States Central Command (CENTCOM).[32] Satellite images of the base taken moments before the attack by Planet Labs showed that it was mostly empty of aircraft.[33]

Attacks

[edit]

About 5:44 pm local time, Iran launched missiles at Al-Udeid.[34][35][31] US officials said the barrage included short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles.[36][37] Explosions were heard in Doha, the capital of Qatar. Social media posts showed missiles streaking across the sky.[31]

A US Defense Department official said that its air defenses in Qatar intercepted 13 Iranian missiles, while another was allowed to crash harmlessly off-target.[38] The Qatar Defense Ministry said that it had intercepted the missiles and that the attack resulted in no casualties.[39] Iranian media outlets described the strike as "devastating."[31]

After the attack, Iran's Revolutionary Guards issued a statement saying that the attack was retaliation for US "military aggression" against Iran's "peaceful" nuclear program[30]: one missile for each US bomb dropped on Iran's nuclear facilities.[30]

The White House confirmed the missile strikes. President Donald Trump convened his national security team to discuss the developments.[30] US officials placed military assets on high alert and expressed readiness to respond.[30]

The US activated air defense systems in Al-Asad Airbase in Iraq.[40] Iran's Mehr News Agency said that Iran had also fired missiles at US forces in Iraq,[41] but the claim was rebutted by other sources.[42]

Other strikes

[edit]

Iraqi state media reported drone attacks at Iraq's Taji military base quoting a military official but claimed that there had been no casualties.[43] Iran's Tasnim news agency reported drone hits at the US Victory Base Complex, near Baghdad International Airport.[44] The Balad military base in Iraq also reportedly came under attack.[45] Iran's Tasnim news agency claimed two explosions were heard inside the base.[45] Al Sumaria TV network also reported an attack on the radar systems at Imam Ali base in Iraq.[46] According to a spokesman for the Iraqi Prime Minister, the drones caused "significant damage" to the radar systems of the Taji and Imam Ali bases. The Iraqi government condemned the attacks as a "cowardly and treacherous" assault.[12]

Reactions

[edit]

Iran

[edit]

Following the strikes, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement asserting that any additional US aggression would lead to the "collapse" of America's military presence in the region, calling US bases in the region "major weak points and the Achilles' heel of this warmongering regime".[47] Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said "We didn't harm anyone. And we will not accept any harassment from anyone under any circumstances".[48] Iranian deputy foreign affairs minister for policy Majid Takht-Ravanchi stated that Iran would continue abiding by the Non-Proliferation Treaty, earlier Iranian threats to withdraw notwithstanding.[49]

Iran said the attack was an "act of self-defence had nothing to do with our friendly neighbour Qatar, as we enjoy excellent and deeply rooted relationships,"[50]

Qatar

[edit]

Qatar strongly condemned the Iranian attack on Al Udeid Air Base in its territory, adding that Qatar's air defenses successfully intercepted the missiles and that there were no human casualties. Qatar said that Iran's actions may cause "catastrophic consequences for international peace and security".[51][52] Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said that Qatar reserved the right to "respond directly, proportionate to the nature and scale of this blatant aggression".[53]

United States

[edit]

US president Donald Trump dismissed the Iranian attack as "a very weak response" and thanked Iran for giving the US early notice about the strikes. He also called on Iran to take the opportunity to "proceed to peace and harmony in the region", and said that he "will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same".[54] Five hours after the strikes, Trump stated that Iran and Israel had agreed on a ceasefire proposal and that the former would end hostilities at midnight 24 June, to be followed by Israel 12 hours later. According to Reuters, a "senior Iranian official" responded affirmatively, noting that the offer was made by the US and mediated by Qatar.[49]

International

[edit]
  •  Algeria: Algeria condemned the "flagrant and unacceptable violations" and reaffirmed its "solidarity and support for the sisterly state of Qatar".[55]
  •  Bahrain: Bahrain affirmed its "full support for the sisterly State of Qatar following the Iranian attack on its territory".[48]
  •  Canada: Prime Minister Mark Carney called the attack "a diplomatic move by Iran" which was "proportionate" and "de-escalatory" and opened a window for diplomacy.[56]
  •  Egypt: Egypt strongly condemned the attacks on Qatar as a "violation of its sovereignty".[57]
  •  France: President Emmanuel Macron stated that "France's solidarity is with Qatar"[48] and called on all parties "to exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate, and return to the negotiating table," adding that "the spiral of chaos must end".[58]
  •  Iraq: Iraq described the attack as a "dangerous and accelerating escalation" that could expand the conflict.[57]
  •  Jordan: Jordan strongly condemned the attack, calling it a "flagrant violation" of Qatar's sovereignty.[57]
  •  Kuwait: Kuwait expressed its "strong condemnation and denunciation of the attacks targeting Al Udeid Air Base in the sisterly State of Qatar" and declared "full support" for Qatar.[48]
  •  Lebanon: President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the attacks and expressed solidarity with Qatar.[59][57]
  •  Mauritania: Mauritania expressed its "firm condemnation and denunciation of this aggression", claiming it undermines the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar and expressing "full solidarity" with the State of Qatar, its leaders and its people. Mauritania also reiterated its call for restraint, dialogue, and wisdom to preserve security and stability in the region.[60]
  •  Morocco: Morocco condemned what it called a "blatant missile strike" and reaffirmed its full solidarity with Qatar.[57]
  •  Oman: Oman denounced the attack and called it a "violation of the country's sovereignty" but blamed Israel for attacking Iran first on 13 of June.[59] In response to the attack, Oman also identified Israel as the main culprit behind the increase in tensions in the Middle East.[61]
  •  Palestine: The Palestinian Authority condemned the Iranian strikes as a blatant violation of Qatari sovereignty.[48]
  •  Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia condemned the Iranian attack in Qatar "in the strongest terms", calling it "a flagrant violation of international law".[62]
  •  United Arab Emirates: The UAE condemned "in the strongest terms" the targeting of the base and expressed solidarity with Qatar.[63]

Non-state actors

[edit]

Analysis

[edit]

A report by the Institute for the Study of War implied that Iran had choreographed the strikes to minimize tensions, in part by notifying Al Udeid in advance. Relatively "moderate" Iranian officials were said to be urging a cessation of conflict on Supreme Leader Khamenei.[49]

Notes

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  1. ^ The attacks are reported to have occurred at approximately 7:39 p.m. AST (i.e. UTC+03:00) on June 23, which corresponds to 16:39 UTC on June 23
  2. ^ Persian: عملیات بشارت فتح, romanized: Amaliyat-i Basharat-i Fath

References

[edit]
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