Iran launched an attack on the Al Udeid U.S. Air Force base in Qatar on Monday, as the world awaited its retaliation following U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.
The attack marked another escalation in the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict, which Israel launched with airstrikes against Iran on June 13.
Here’s what to know about the targeted airbase in Qatar:
How big is the base?
The Al Udeid air base is the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East. The base typically houses between 5,000 and 10,000 servicemembers, a defense official confirmed to The Hill.
What is its significance?
The air base is strategically placed to support U.S. military operations in the Middle East, as well as North African and South Asia. It hosts U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and Special Operations Command (SOCCENT) Forward Headquarters and U.S. Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT).
The base has served as “the primary staging ground for most air operations in the campaign to defeat ISIS,” according to the Defense Department.
Since 2003, Qatar has contributed more than $8 billion toward developing the air base.
Were any injuries reported?
The Department of Defense said the attacks were from short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles and did not report any casualties from them.
“I can confirm that al Udeid Air Base was attacked by short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles originating from Iran today. At this time, there are no reports of U.S. casualties. We are monitoring this situation closely and will provide more information as it becomes available,” a Defense official said in a statement.
A spokesperson for the Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Qatari air defenses “thwarted the attack and successfully intercepted the Iranian missiles.”
The spokesperson also condemned the strikes, saying Qatar “reserves the right to respond directly in a manner proportional to the nature and scale of this blatant aggression and in accordance with international law” and that Qatar considers the strikes “a flagrant violation of the State of Qatar’s sovereignty and airspace, as well as of international law and the United Nations Charter.”
Did Iran give advance notice of attack?
The New York Times cited three Iranian officials familiar with the plans who said Iran gave advanced notice about the attacks, in an effort to minimize casualties. They said Iran symbolically needed to strike back after the U.S. strikes but also wanted to provide an off ramp to all sides, according to the Times.
Qatari officials said Monday that it was temporarily closing the nation’s airspace as Iran threatened to retaliate. The Qatari foreign ministry said the move is one of several “precautionary measures taken based on developments in the region.”
Earlier on Monday, the U.S. Embassy in Qatar advised U.S. citizens in the country to “shelter in place until further notice,” saying the alert was issued “out of an abundance of caution.”
When did Trump visit?
Trump visited the Al Udeid air base last month during his tour of the Middle East. He was the first sitting president to make the trip since 2003.
He delivered remarks to more than 1,000 U.S. servicemembers at the base.
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