Qatar shuts down airspace amid Israel-Iran crisis
Qatar says it has shut down airspace temporarily as part of measures taken amid developments in the region, a statement by the Qatari foreign ministry says.
The notice posted on the X platform said the move is to ensure the safety of residents and visitors.
The shutdown of Qatari airspace comes as Iran repeated earlier threats to retaliate against the United States after strikes on its nuclear sites.
Qatar hosts Al-Udeid Air Base, the largest US base in the Middle East, which serves as the forward headquarters for US Central Command and accommodates approximately 10,000 troops.
The US embassy in Qatar emailed US citizens in the country on Monday recommending that they shelter in place until further notice, triggering a slew of messages from various Doha-based institutions to employees and students.
The United Kingdom government later issued a warning recommending the same for UK citizens in Qatar.
The US and UK messages noted that the recommendation was "out of an abundance of caution" and offered no further information.
Two US officials separately told Reuters that Iran could carry out attacks targeting US forces in the Middle East soon, with one source saying it could happen in the next day or two.
Commenting on the message, Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said in a statement that the security situation in the country remained stable, adding that the embassy's advisory did not suggest any specific threat.
Al-Ansari said Qatar was ready to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of its citizens and residents.
There was confusion among residents in Qatar over how to react to the mixed messages coming from the Qatari and embassy authorities on Monday afternoon.
The Qatar campuses of US universities offered differing advice to their staff and students, with Texas A&M University saying an evacuation of their building had been ordered, Northwestern University requesting that people go home and Georgetown University telling people they could go home if they wished.
Israel struck the most notorious jail for political prisoners in Tehran on Monday in a potent demonstration that it was expanding its targets beyond military and nuclear sites.
Ebrahim Zolfaqari, a spokesman for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya central military headquarters, issued an apparent threat to retaliate after US President Donald Trump approved attacks on Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
"Mr Trump, the gambler, you may start this war but we will be the ones to end it," Zolfaqari said on Monday in an English-language video statement.
Iranian authorities have repeated earlier threats to retaliate against the United States but it had yet to do so in a meaningful way more than 24 hours after US bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-busters on Iran's underground nuclear sites.
Trump's administration maintains that its aim is solely to destroy Iran's nuclear program, not to open a wider war.
The US administration says it is still seeking a diplomatic resolution that would have Iran forgo any reprisal.
with AP and PA
Qatar says it has shut down airspace temporarily as part of measures taken amid developments in the region, a statement by the Qatari foreign ministry says.
The notice posted on the X platform said the move is to ensure the safety of residents and visitors.
The shutdown of Qatari airspace comes as Iran repeated earlier threats to retaliate against the United States after strikes on its nuclear sites.
Qatar hosts Al-Udeid Air Base, the largest US base in the Middle East, which serves as the forward headquarters for US Central Command and accommodates approximately 10,000 troops.
The US embassy in Qatar emailed US citizens in the country on Monday recommending that they shelter in place until further notice, triggering a slew of messages from various Doha-based institutions to employees and students.
The United Kingdom government later issued a warning recommending the same for UK citizens in Qatar.
The US and UK messages noted that the recommendation was "out of an abundance of caution" and offered no further information.
Two US officials separately told Reuters that Iran could carry out attacks targeting US forces in the Middle East soon, with one source saying it could happen in the next day or two.
Commenting on the message, Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said in a statement that the security situation in the country remained stable, adding that the embassy's advisory did not suggest any specific threat.
Al-Ansari said Qatar was ready to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of its citizens and residents.
There was confusion among residents in Qatar over how to react to the mixed messages coming from the Qatari and embassy authorities on Monday afternoon.
The Qatar campuses of US universities offered differing advice to their staff and students, with Texas A&M University saying an evacuation of their building had been ordered, Northwestern University requesting that people go home and Georgetown University telling people they could go home if they wished.
Israel struck the most notorious jail for political prisoners in Tehran on Monday in a potent demonstration that it was expanding its targets beyond military and nuclear sites.
Ebrahim Zolfaqari, a spokesman for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya central military headquarters, issued an apparent threat to retaliate after US President Donald Trump approved attacks on Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
"Mr Trump, the gambler, you may start this war but we will be the ones to end it," Zolfaqari said on Monday in an English-language video statement.
Iranian authorities have repeated earlier threats to retaliate against the United States but it had yet to do so in a meaningful way more than 24 hours after US bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-busters on Iran's underground nuclear sites.
Trump's administration maintains that its aim is solely to destroy Iran's nuclear program, not to open a wider war.
The US administration says it is still seeking a diplomatic resolution that would have Iran forgo any reprisal.
with AP and PA
Qatar says it has shut down airspace temporarily as part of measures taken amid developments in the region, a statement by the Qatari foreign ministry says.
The notice posted on the X platform said the move is to ensure the safety of residents and visitors.
The shutdown of Qatari airspace comes as Iran repeated earlier threats to retaliate against the United States after strikes on its nuclear sites.
Qatar hosts Al-Udeid Air Base, the largest US base in the Middle East, which serves as the forward headquarters for US Central Command and accommodates approximately 10,000 troops.
The US embassy in Qatar emailed US citizens in the country on Monday recommending that they shelter in place until further notice, triggering a slew of messages from various Doha-based institutions to employees and students.
The United Kingdom government later issued a warning recommending the same for UK citizens in Qatar.
The US and UK messages noted that the recommendation was "out of an abundance of caution" and offered no further information.
Two US officials separately told Reuters that Iran could carry out attacks targeting US forces in the Middle East soon, with one source saying it could happen in the next day or two.
Commenting on the message, Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said in a statement that the security situation in the country remained stable, adding that the embassy's advisory did not suggest any specific threat.
Al-Ansari said Qatar was ready to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of its citizens and residents.
There was confusion among residents in Qatar over how to react to the mixed messages coming from the Qatari and embassy authorities on Monday afternoon.
The Qatar campuses of US universities offered differing advice to their staff and students, with Texas A&M University saying an evacuation of their building had been ordered, Northwestern University requesting that people go home and Georgetown University telling people they could go home if they wished.
Israel struck the most notorious jail for political prisoners in Tehran on Monday in a potent demonstration that it was expanding its targets beyond military and nuclear sites.
Ebrahim Zolfaqari, a spokesman for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya central military headquarters, issued an apparent threat to retaliate after US President Donald Trump approved attacks on Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
"Mr Trump, the gambler, you may start this war but we will be the ones to end it," Zolfaqari said on Monday in an English-language video statement.
Iranian authorities have repeated earlier threats to retaliate against the United States but it had yet to do so in a meaningful way more than 24 hours after US bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-busters on Iran's underground nuclear sites.
Trump's administration maintains that its aim is solely to destroy Iran's nuclear program, not to open a wider war.
The US administration says it is still seeking a diplomatic resolution that would have Iran forgo any reprisal.
with AP and PA
Qatar says it has shut down airspace temporarily as part of measures taken amid developments in the region, a statement by the Qatari foreign ministry says.
The notice posted on the X platform said the move is to ensure the safety of residents and visitors.
The shutdown of Qatari airspace comes as Iran repeated earlier threats to retaliate against the United States after strikes on its nuclear sites.
Qatar hosts Al-Udeid Air Base, the largest US base in the Middle East, which serves as the forward headquarters for US Central Command and accommodates approximately 10,000 troops.
The US embassy in Qatar emailed US citizens in the country on Monday recommending that they shelter in place until further notice, triggering a slew of messages from various Doha-based institutions to employees and students.
The United Kingdom government later issued a warning recommending the same for UK citizens in Qatar.
The US and UK messages noted that the recommendation was "out of an abundance of caution" and offered no further information.
Two US officials separately told Reuters that Iran could carry out attacks targeting US forces in the Middle East soon, with one source saying it could happen in the next day or two.
Commenting on the message, Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said in a statement that the security situation in the country remained stable, adding that the embassy's advisory did not suggest any specific threat.
Al-Ansari said Qatar was ready to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of its citizens and residents.
There was confusion among residents in Qatar over how to react to the mixed messages coming from the Qatari and embassy authorities on Monday afternoon.
The Qatar campuses of US universities offered differing advice to their staff and students, with Texas A&M University saying an evacuation of their building had been ordered, Northwestern University requesting that people go home and Georgetown University telling people they could go home if they wished.
Israel struck the most notorious jail for political prisoners in Tehran on Monday in a potent demonstration that it was expanding its targets beyond military and nuclear sites.
Ebrahim Zolfaqari, a spokesman for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya central military headquarters, issued an apparent threat to retaliate after US President Donald Trump approved attacks on Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
"Mr Trump, the gambler, you may start this war but we will be the ones to end it," Zolfaqari said on Monday in an English-language video statement.
Iranian authorities have repeated earlier threats to retaliate against the United States but it had yet to do so in a meaningful way more than 24 hours after US bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-busters on Iran's underground nuclear sites.
Trump's administration maintains that its aim is solely to destroy Iran's nuclear program, not to open a wider war.
The US administration says it is still seeking a diplomatic resolution that would have Iran forgo any reprisal.
with AP and PA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
The art of the lie: Why Trump is taking issue with Iran's alternative facts
Before Trump did it, with an assist from the Supreme Court on Friday, it was Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld who worked to erode checks and balances and hoover all the power into the executive branch. With the malleable George W. Bush in the Oval Office, Cheney and Rumsfeld were able to create an alternative universe where they were never wrong – because they conjured up information to prove they were right. The two malevolent regents had a fever about getting rid of Saddam Hussein, so they hyped up intelligence, redirecting Americans' vengeful emotions about Osama bin Laden and 9/11 into that pet project. Tony Blair scaremongered that it would take only 45 minutes for Saddam to send his weapons of mass destruction westward. But there were no WMDs. When it comes to the Middle East, presidents can't resist indulging in a gasconade. Unlike Iraq, Iran was actually making progress on its nuclear program. Trump did not need to warp intelligence to justify his decision. But he did anyway, to satisfy his unquenchable ego. He bragged that the strikes had 'OBLITERATED' Iran's nuclear capabilities. Loading 'I just don't think the president was telling the truth,' Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, told reporters. He believes Iran still has 'significant remaining capability'. When CNN's Natasha Bertrand and her colleagues broke the story that a preliminary classified US report suggested the strikes had set back Iran by only a few months, Trump, Pete Hegseth and Karoline Leavitt smeared her and The New York Times, which confirmed her scoop, as inaccurate, unpatriotic and disrespectful to our military. On Friday afternoon, CNN revealed that the military did not even use bunker-buster bombs on one of Iran's largest nuclear targets because it was too deep. Though Trump likes to hug the flag – and just raised two huge ones on the White House North and South Lawns – he ignores a basic tenet of patriotism: it is patriotic to tell the public the truth on life-or-death matters, and for the press to challenge power. It is unpatriotic to mislead the public in order to control it and suppress dissent, or as a way of puffing up your own ego. Although he was dubbed the 'daddy' of NATO in The Hague on Wednesday, Trump clearly has daddy issues. (Pass the tissues!) He did not get the affirmation from his father that could have prevented this vainglorious vamping. For Trump, it was not enough for the strikes to damage Iran's nuclear capabilities; they had to 'obliterate' them. It could not simply be an impressive mission; it had to be, as Hegseth said, 'the most complex and secretive military operation in history'. (Move over, D-Day and crossing the Delaware.) The president was so eager to magnify the mission that he eerily compared it to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Trump has always believed in 'truthful hyperbole', as he called it in The Art of the Deal. But now it's untruthful hyperbole. He has falsely claimed that an election was stolen and falsely claimed that $US1.7 trillion ($2.6 trillion) in cuts to the social safety net in his Big, Unpopular Bill 'won't affect anybody; it is just fraud, waste and abuse.' Loading He's getting help on his alternative universe from all the new partisan reporters in the White House briefing room who are eager to shill for him. 'So many Americans still have questions about the 2020 election,' a reporter told Trump at the news conference on Friday, wondering if he would appoint someone at the Justice Department to investigate judges 'for the political persecution of you, your family and your supporters during the Biden administration'? Trump beamed. 'I love you,' he said to the young woman. 'Who are you?' She was, as it turned out, the reporter for Mike Lindell of MyPillow fame, who has his own 'news' network.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Trump tariffs ‘as big an inflation threat as COVID-19'
'Policymakers must act decisively on multiple fronts to ensure price stability and promote sustainable economic growth while preserving economic and financial stability,' he said. There are already signs overseas of the financial hit caused by Trump's tariff agenda. Canada's economy contracted in April as its close trade links to the US were disrupted while data released last week revealed American GDP fell by 0.5 per cent through the first three months of 2025. While the Australian economy grew through the March quarter, this pre-dated Trump's liberation day announcements. But there are signs a rise in American tariffs is already starting to affect local firms. A survey by MYOB to be released this week shows Trump's tariffs have been felt by 17 per cent of small and mid-sized businesses. About 41 per cent of those surveyed said they believed the tariffs would destabilise the global economy, with more than a third expecting the imposts to both lift business costs and inflation. While 45 per cent said they expected the economy to decline this year, 64 per cent said their financial position was either good or excellent. MYOB chief executive officer Paul Robson said the results highlighted the impact of events playing out on the other side of the globe. 'While global policy decisions may feel distant, Australian SMEs are alive to potential local impacts and are pivoting their way around them,' he said. 'The key consideration for impacted SMEs is the cumulative effect of both tariffs and interest rates on the cost of doing business. Supply chain disruption is another concern for this community, given the diverse industry portfolio this sector covers.' The turmoil in supply chains, driven in part by Trump's tariff agenda, has resulted in 17 per cent of surveyed businesses saying they plan to shift where they source their products or services. Just one in 10 expects an increase in customer demand. This impact is not showing up yet in the federal budget, which Treasurer Jim Chalmers forecast in March would show $940 billion in gross debt by the end of the current financial year before climbing to $1.02 billion by the end of 2025-26. Loading But total government debt will end 2024-25 at $928.6 billion due to a better budget bottom line. Chalmers had forecast a deficit $27.6 billion, but in the financial year to the end of May, the deficit was just $5.5 billion due to higher-than-expected company and personal income tax collections. On a pro rata basis, the government had expected the deficit to be at $20.2 billion by the end of May. The government believes the full-year deficit will increase to more than $10 billion as payments, held up in part by the May election, start to flow to states and taxpayers. Even at that level, Chalmers is on track to again fall short of his budget gross government debt forecast. But debt levels are ramping up much quicker among the nation's states and territories. Ratings' agency S&P Global estimates that the states and territories had gross debt of $266.3 billion in 2019 with that on track to reach $900 billion by 2029 – a 238 per cent increase. Over the same period, federal gross debt is forecast to grow by 126 per cent. Victoria is on track to have the highest debt of any state or territory at $274.1 billion, a 397 per cent increase. The largest jump in debt is expected to be endured by Tasmania, climbing by 627 per cent to $23.4 billion. NSW ($252.3 billion) and Queensland ($205.7 billion) will also have high debt levels.
The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
Trump tariffs ‘as big an inflation threat as COVID-19'
'Policymakers must act decisively on multiple fronts to ensure price stability and promote sustainable economic growth while preserving economic and financial stability,' he said. There are already signs overseas of the financial hit caused by Trump's tariff agenda. Canada's economy contracted in April as its close trade links to the US were disrupted while data released last week revealed American GDP fell by 0.5 per cent through the first three months of 2025. While the Australian economy grew through the March quarter, this pre-dated Trump's liberation day announcements. But there are signs a rise in American tariffs is already starting to affect local firms. A survey by MYOB to be released this week shows Trump's tariffs have been felt by 17 per cent of small and mid-sized businesses. About 41 per cent of those surveyed said they believed the tariffs would destabilise the global economy, with more than a third expecting the imposts to both lift business costs and inflation. While 45 per cent said they expected the economy to decline this year, 64 per cent said their financial position was either good or excellent. MYOB chief executive officer Paul Robson said the results highlighted the impact of events playing out on the other side of the globe. 'While global policy decisions may feel distant, Australian SMEs are alive to potential local impacts and are pivoting their way around them,' he said. 'The key consideration for impacted SMEs is the cumulative effect of both tariffs and interest rates on the cost of doing business. Supply chain disruption is another concern for this community, given the diverse industry portfolio this sector covers.' The turmoil in supply chains, driven in part by Trump's tariff agenda, has resulted in 17 per cent of surveyed businesses saying they plan to shift where they source their products or services. Just one in 10 expects an increase in customer demand. This impact is not showing up yet in the federal budget, which Treasurer Jim Chalmers forecast in March would show $940 billion in gross debt by the end of the current financial year before climbing to $1.02 billion by the end of 2025-26. Loading But total government debt will end 2024-25 at $928.6 billion due to a better budget bottom line. Chalmers had forecast a deficit $27.6 billion, but in the financial year to the end of May, the deficit was just $5.5 billion due to higher-than-expected company and personal income tax collections. On a pro rata basis, the government had expected the deficit to be at $20.2 billion by the end of May. The government believes the full-year deficit will increase to more than $10 billion as payments, held up in part by the May election, start to flow to states and taxpayers. Even at that level, Chalmers is on track to again fall short of his budget gross government debt forecast. But debt levels are ramping up much quicker among the nation's states and territories. Ratings' agency S&P Global estimates that the states and territories had gross debt of $266.3 billion in 2019 with that on track to reach $900 billion by 2029 – a 238 per cent increase. Over the same period, federal gross debt is forecast to grow by 126 per cent. Victoria is on track to have the highest debt of any state or territory at $274.1 billion, a 397 per cent increase. The largest jump in debt is expected to be endured by Tasmania, climbing by 627 per cent to $23.4 billion. NSW ($252.3 billion) and Queensland ($205.7 billion) will also have high debt levels.
