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Economic Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
As Iranian missiles approached a US base, one nation stepped in to avert a wider war in West Asia
Live Events 19 missiles in the air, a ceasefire on the line A phone call, and a breakthrough (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel On the evening of June 23, when Iranian missiles raced toward the largest American military base in the Gulf, senior Qatari officials were deep in high-level talks about defusing regional didn't expect the conflict to reach their doorstep — until the walls began to to Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari, defense personnel interrupted a meeting with the Qatari Prime Minister in Doha on Monday with urgent warnings: Iranian missiles were incoming. Moments later, the thunder of interceptors filled the skies above the Qatari capital, Ansari told attack came days after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and pushed the region to the brink of a broader capitals braced for impact. In Kuwait, shelters were opened. In Bahrain, roads were closed. Some residents in Dubai and Abu Dhabi rushed to buy supplies or book flights Al Udeid Air Base , the largest U.S. installation in the region, American military personnel had already begun evacuating. Qatar, meanwhile, activated its early warning radar system and scrambled 300 troops to deploy Patriot missile batteries. 'Towards the end it was very clear… Al Udeid Base was going to be targeted,' a Qatari defense official told around 7 p.m. local time, radar confirmed that Iranian missiles were airborne. According to Al-Ansari, Qatar's military intercepted seven missiles over the Persian Gulf, and another eleven over Doha. A single missile struck an uninhabited area near Al Udeid, causing minimal damage.U.S. President Donald Trump later said that 14 missiles had been fired, but Qatar's account put the number at 19. Al-Ansari told CNN the missile defense operation was 'Qatari-led', though coordinated with U.S. Tehran had warned Gulf nations months earlier that any U.S. attack on Iranian territory would make American bases across the region 'legitimate targets,' Al-Ansari said no specific warning was given ahead of this strike. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly reiterated that stance in Istanbul just one day earlier, telling Gulf counterparts that retaliation was imminent if the U.S. the attack, Iran's National Security Council said the strikes posed 'no dangerous aspect to our friendly and brotherly country of Qatar and its noble people.' But Al-Ansari dismissed speculation that Qatar had quietly allowed the strike in exchange for a future diplomatic opening.'We do not take it lightly for our country to be attacked by missiles from any side,' he told CNN. 'I would not put my daughter under missiles coming from the sky just to come out with a political outcome. This was a complete surprise to us.'Just as Qatar's leadership was weighing how to respond, a call came from President Trump to Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Trump relayed that Israel was willing to agree to a ceasefire, and asked Qatar to relay that message to Iran.'As we were discussing how to retaliate to this attack… this is when we get a call from the United States that a possible ceasefire, a possible avenue to regional security had opened,' Al-Ansari country's chief negotiator, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, reached out to Tehran. Simultaneously, Prime Minister Al Thani spoke to U.S. Vice President JD Vance. With both channels active, a deal was quickly arranged.'All options were on the table that night,' Al-Ansari recalled. 'But we also realized that was a moment that could create momentum for peace in a region that hasn't been there for two years now.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
As Iranian missiles approached a US base, one nation stepped in to avert a wider war in West Asia
On the evening of June 23, when Iranian missiles raced toward the largest American military base in the Gulf, senior Qatari officials were deep in high-level talks about defusing regional tensions. They didn't expect the conflict to reach their doorstep — until the walls began to shake. According to Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari, defense personnel interrupted a meeting with the Qatari Prime Minister in Doha on Monday with urgent warnings: Iranian missiles were incoming. Moments later, the thunder of interceptors filled the skies above the Qatari capital, Ansari told CNN. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Easiest Way to Get Your Passport in 2025. GovPlus Learn More Undo The attack came days after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and pushed the region to the brink of a broader war. Gulf capitals braced for impact. In Kuwait, shelters were opened. In Bahrain, roads were closed. Some residents in Dubai and Abu Dhabi rushed to buy supplies or book flights out. Live Events At Al Udeid Air Base , the largest U.S. installation in the region, American military personnel had already begun evacuating. Qatar, meanwhile, activated its early warning radar system and scrambled 300 troops to deploy Patriot missile batteries. 'Towards the end it was very clear… Al Udeid Base was going to be targeted,' a Qatari defense official told CNN. 19 missiles in the air, a ceasefire on the line At around 7 p.m. local time, radar confirmed that Iranian missiles were airborne. According to Al-Ansari, Qatar's military intercepted seven missiles over the Persian Gulf, and another eleven over Doha. A single missile struck an uninhabited area near Al Udeid, causing minimal damage. U.S. President Donald Trump later said that 14 missiles had been fired, but Qatar's account put the number at 19. Al-Ansari told CNN the missile defense operation was 'Qatari-led', though coordinated with U.S. forces. While Tehran had warned Gulf nations months earlier that any U.S. attack on Iranian territory would make American bases across the region 'legitimate targets,' Al-Ansari said no specific warning was given ahead of this strike. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly reiterated that stance in Istanbul just one day earlier, telling Gulf counterparts that retaliation was imminent if the U.S. escalated. After the attack, Iran's National Security Council said the strikes posed 'no dangerous aspect to our friendly and brotherly country of Qatar and its noble people.' But Al-Ansari dismissed speculation that Qatar had quietly allowed the strike in exchange for a future diplomatic opening. 'We do not take it lightly for our country to be attacked by missiles from any side,' he told CNN. 'I would not put my daughter under missiles coming from the sky just to come out with a political outcome. This was a complete surprise to us.' A phone call, and a breakthrough Just as Qatar's leadership was weighing how to respond, a call came from President Trump to Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Trump relayed that Israel was willing to agree to a ceasefire, and asked Qatar to relay that message to Iran. 'As we were discussing how to retaliate to this attack… this is when we get a call from the United States that a possible ceasefire, a possible avenue to regional security had opened,' Al-Ansari said. The country's chief negotiator, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, reached out to Tehran. Simultaneously, Prime Minister Al Thani spoke to U.S. Vice President JD Vance. With both channels active, a deal was quickly arranged. 'All options were on the table that night,' Al-Ansari recalled. 'But we also realized that was a moment that could create momentum for peace in a region that hasn't been there for two years now.'
Egypt Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
How Qatar defused Iran's attack on the largest US-run base in the region
CNN — Top Qatari officials had been meeting with the country's prime minister on Monday afternoon to find ways of de-escalating a Top Qatari officials had been meeting with the country's prime minister on Monday afternoon to find ways of de-escalating a conflict between Iran and Israel , when defense ministry personnel called to warn of incoming Iranian missiles. The attack, the first on the Gulf, caught them by surprise, according to Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari, who recalls feeling the prime minister's residence shake with the interceptions that quickly followed overhead. Unease had gripped the Gulf Arab states that morning. The glitzy, oil-rich capitals feared a worst-case scenario: an Iranian missile strike shattering their image of stability after 12 days of war between Israel and Iran, which had culminated in a series of US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Bahrain, where the US Naval Command is located, told residents not to use main roads and Kuwait, which hosts several US military bases, activated shelters in ministerial complexes. In nearby Dubai and Abu Dhabi, some residents were booking early flights out and others stocking up on supplies. In Doha, nervous residents were on high alert. US and UK citizens in the country had been told to seek shelter and American military personnel had been evacuated from the US-run Al Udeid Base. Qatar's early warning military radar system, one of the most advanced in the region, and intelligence gathered indicated that Iranian missile batteries had moved toward Qatar earlier that day, the spokesperson said – but nothing was certain until shortly before the strikes. 'It could've been misdirected to lead us away from the actual target. There was still a lot of targets in the region…but towards the end it was very clear, their missile systems were hot and we had a very clear idea an hour before the attack, Al Udeid Base was going to be targeted,' a Qatari official with knowledge of defense operations said. Responding to the attack Around 7 p.m. local time, Qatari officials were informed by their military that Iran's missiles were airborne and heading towards Al Udeid base, Al-Ansari said. Qatar's armed forces deployed 300 service members and activated multiple Qatari Patriot anti-air missile batteries across two sites to counter the 19 Iranian missiles roaring toward the country, according to Al-Ansari. US President Donald Trump has said that 14 missiles were fired from Iran. Qatari forces coordinated closely with the US, but the operation was 'Qatari led,' Al-Ansari told CNN. Seven missiles were intercepted over the Persian Gulf before reaching Qatari soil, he said. Another 11 were intercepted over Doha without causing damage and one landed in an uninhabited area of the base causing minimal damage. In this frame-grab made from video, missiles and air-defense interceptors illuminate the night sky over Doha after Iran launched an attack on US forces at Al Udeid Air Base on June 23 in Doha, Qatar. Getty Images According to Trump, Iran had given the US early notice ahead of the attack. While Doha received intel from Washington, it did not receive any warning directly from the Iranians, according to Al-Ansari – though officials were well aware that the US bases in the region could be targeted. 'The Iranians told us months ago … if there was an attack by the US on Iranian soil that would make bases hosting American forces in the region legitimate targets,' Al-Ansari said. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that warning was reiterated to his Gulf counterparts in an Istanbul meeting a day before Iranian strikes on Qatar. Iran's National Security Council said after the intercepted attack that its strikes had posed 'no dangerous aspect to our friendly and brotherly country of Qatar and its noble people.' Still, Al-Ansari rejects speculation that Qatar – given its working relationship with Tehran – might have given a greenlight for the strikes in order to create an off-ramp for regional escalation. 'We do not take it lightly for our country to be attacked by missiles from any side and we would never do that as part of political posturing or a game in the region,' he said. 'We would not put our people in the line of danger. I would not put my daughter under missiles coming from the sky just to come out with a political outcome. This was a complete surprise to us,' Ansari said. A ceasefire quickly follows In the moments after the attack, Trump called Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani telling him the Israelis were willing to agree to a ceasefire and asked him to do the same for the Iranians, according to Al-Ansari. 'As we were discussing how to retaliate to this attack … this is when we get a call from the United States that a possible ceasefire, a possible avenue to regional security had opened,' Ansari said. Doha's role as mediator quickly became key in the aftermath of the strikes. Qatar's chief negotiator Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi spoke to the Iranians while the Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani was speaking to US Vice President JD Vance. Soon, 'we were able to secure a deal,' Al-Ansaris says – and in the nick of time. 'All options were on the table that night … we could have immediately retaliated or pulled back and say we're not talking to a country that sent 19 missiles our way. But we also realized that was a moment that could create momentum for peace in a region that hasn't been there for two years now,' Ansari said. Shortly after, Trump declared on social media that a ceasefire between Iran and Israel had been brokered.
Shafaq News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Qatar blames Israeli escalation after Iranian strike on Al Udeid
Shafaq News/ Qatar on Monday pointed to Israeli provocations as a driving force behind rising regional tensions, following an Iranian missile attack on Al Udeid Air Base. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said the strike, which Doha condemned as a "flagrant violation of sovereignty," came despite Qatar's active efforts to mediate conflicts—efforts repeatedly undermined by what he described as Israel's 'irresponsible escalation.' Al-Ansari reiterated Qatar's call for all parties to return to the negotiating table and resolve disputes peacefully, reminding of Doha's repeated warnings about the risks posed by Israel's escalating behavior and what he termed as its 'irresponsible conduct' in the region. In turn, Major General Shayeg bin Misfer Al-Hajri, Deputy Chief of Joint Operations in Qatar explained the Iranian attack, "At 7:30 p.m. local time (4:30 p.m. GMT), we received information indicating that seven missiles were launched from Iran toward Al Udeid…Qatar's air defense systems intercepted and downed all but one missile, which landed within the base perimeter without causing casualties or material damage.'
Economic Times
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Qatar intercepts all but one Iranian missile on US army base; all you need to know on the 'surprise' attack
ET Online A screenshot of the viral video showing air defenses engaging after Iran launched missiles at US bases in Qatar Qatar's Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Defence held a joint press conference on Qatar Television Monday evening in the wake of a missile strike launched from Iran toward the US Al-Udeid Airbase, reported Doha News. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dr. Majed Al-Ansari strongly denounced the Iranian missile strike, describing it as a 'surprise attack' that violated the spirit of Qatar's efforts to mediate regional disputes. 'We unequivocally condemn the attack on the US military base at Al-Udeid,' Al-Ansari said, noted the news outlet. 'This act came despite Qatar's continued diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in the region.' Calling for calm and dialogue, the Qatari leader also urged all parties to return to the negotiation table. 'We call for a return to peaceful diplomacy and a resolution of conflicts through dialogue, not escalation.'
