Latest news with #IranRetaliation
CBC
23-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
What we know about the U.S. airbase in Qatar targeted by Iran
Social Sharing Iran retaliated Monday for the U.S. attacks on its nuclear sites by targeting Al Udeid airbase, a sprawling desert facility in Qatar that serves as a main regional military hub for American forces. U.S. President Donald Trump said in a social media post that no Americans were harmed and "hardly any damage was done." A Qatari military officer said one of the 19 missiles fired by Iran was not intercepted and hit the base. As of this month, the U.S. military had about 40,000 service members in the Middle East, according to a U.S. official. Many of them are on ships at sea as part of a bolstering of forces as the conflict escalated between Israel and Iran, according to the Washington-based Council on Foreign Relations, a research and policy centre. Bases in the Middle East have been on heightened alert and taking additional security precautions in anticipation of potential strikes from Iran while the Pentagon has shifted military aircraft and warships into and around the region during the conflict. The U.S. has military sites spread across the region, including in Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates. Al Udeid hosts thousands of service members The base hosts thousands of U.S. service members and served as a major staging ground for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. At the height of both, Al Udeid housed some 10,000 U.S. troops, and that number dropped to about 8,000 as of 2022. The forward headquarters of the U.S. military's Central Command, it also was used in the fight against the Islamic State. or ISIS, in Iraq and Syria. Al Udeid is built on a flat stretch of desert about 30 kilometres southwest of Qatar's capital, Doha. Over two decades, the gas-rich Gulf country has spent some $8 billion US in developing the base, once considered so sensitive that American military officers would say only that it was somewhere "in southwest Asia." WATCH | Why some say the U.S. couldn't afford to wait to strike Iran: Israel, U.S. couldn't afford to wait to hit Iranian nuclear sites: former commander 2 hours ago Duration 8:13 Trump has visited Al Udeid Trump visited the airbase during a trip to the region last month. It was the first time a sitting U.S. president had travelled to the installation in more than 20 years. Al Udeid cleared its tarmacs Last week, ahead of the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Al Udeid saw many of the transport planes, fighter jets and drones typically on its tarmac dispersed. In a June 18 satellite photo taken by Planet Labs PBC and analyzed by The Associated Press, the airbase's tarmac had emptied. The U.S. military has not acknowledged the change, which came after ships off the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet base in Bahrain also had dispersed. That's typically a military strategy to ensure fighting ships and planes aren't destroyed in case of an attack.
The Independent
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
A look at Al Udeid Air Base, the US military site that Iran attacked
Iran retaliated Monday for the U.S. attacks on its nuclear sites by targeting Al Udeid Air Base, a sprawling desert facility in Qatar that serves as a main regional military hub for American forces. A U.S. defense official says no casualties have been reported. As of this month, the U.S. military had about 40,000 service members in the Middle East, according to a U.S. official. Many of them are on ships at sea as part of a bolstering of forces as the conflict escalated between Israel and Iran, according to the Washington-based Council on Foreign Relations research and policy center. Bases in the Middle East have been on heightened alert and taking additional security precautions in anticipation of potential strikes from Iran, while the Pentagon has shifted military aircraft and warships into and around the region during the conflict. The U.S. has military sites spread across the region, including in Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates. Here's a look at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar: Al Udeid hosts thousands of service members The sprawling facility hosts thousands of U.S. service members and served as a major staging ground for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. At the height of both, Al Udeid housed some 10,000 U.S. troops, and that number dropped to about 8,000 as of 2022. The forward headquarters of the U.S. military's Central Command, Al Udeid is built on a flat stretch of desert about 20 miles (30 kilometers) southwest of Qatar's capital, Doha. Over two decades, the gas-rich Gulf country has spent some $8 billion in developing the base, once considered so sensitive that American military officers would say only that it was somewhere 'in southwest Asia.' Trump has visited Al Udeid Trump visited the air base during a trip to the region last month. It was the first time a sitting U.S. president had traveled to the installation in more than 20 years. Al Udeid cleared its tarmacs Last week, ahead of the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Al Udeid saw many of the transport planes, fighter jets and drones typically on its tarmac dispersed. In a June 18 satellite photo taken by Planet Labs PBC and analyzed by The Associated Press, the air base's tarmac had emptied. The U.S. military has not acknowledged the change, which came after ships off the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet base in Bahrain also had dispersed. That's typically a military strategy to ensure your fighting ships and planes aren't destroyed in case of an attack. ___
The Independent
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
First evacuation flight takes off as 1,000 Britons seek escape Israel war zone
A mass evacuation has begun of British nationals from Israel and other Middle East war target zones, with the first flight leaving Tel Aviv on Monday afternoon. With more than 1,000 UK citizens trying to leave Israel amid tit-for tat missile attacks with Iran – forcing the closure of civilian airspace – David Lammy confirmed that the government is scrambling military flights. 'This is an ongoing and fast-moving situation,' the foreign secretary told the House of Commons. He said the government will keep advice "under close review and there may need to be further updates over the course of the next few days". As the crisis deepened with reports of Iranian retaliation for Donald Trump's attack on its nuclear facilities, an RAF aircraft carrying 63 British citizens took off for Cyprus. Advice is also being provided to British nationals in Qatar as the fallout of the conflict continues to spread. Among those caught in Israel is a UK citizen injured in the attacks by Iran, Mr Lammy told MPs as he reiterated UK support in principle for US efforts to stop Tehran's fundamentalist regime obtaining a nuclear weapon. But with a new Yougov poll revealing that almost half of Brits (48 per cent) do not agree with Trump's B-2 stealth bomber raids compared to 22 per cent support, Mr Lammy also repeatedly refused to answer if he believed the US was acting within international law. 'This is a perilous moment in the Middle East, waves of strikes between Israel and Iran have now lasted for 10 days, continuing overnight,' he said. 'I know the whole House will have in their thoughts the many civilians impacted by the fighting. I can confirm today, this includes one British national, injured in Israel. We've reached out to offer consular support.' It is understood that around 4,000 British nationals have registered their presence in Israel with the Foreign Office, while around 1,000 have requested a seat on a flight. Further evacuation flights will be provided by the foreign office based on 'demand and the latest security situation', Mr Lammy said on Monday. 'Today's flight will bring British nationals and their dependents safely back to the UK. While the situation in the Middle East remains volatile, we are working around the clock to secure more flights and bring more people home', he added. The government used an RAF A-400M aircraft for the flight from Tel Aviv to Cyprus – with passengers due to transfer on to a civilian charter aircraft for the onward journey to the UK this afternoon. The FCDO last week said those with 'greatest need' would be prioritised for flights, and British nationals plus their non-British immediate family members travelling with them are eligible. All passengers must hold a valid travel document, and those non-British immediate family members will require valid visas/permission to enter or remain that was granted for more than six months, the FCDO said. Ministers have warned British nationals not to make their way to the airport unless they are contacted, adding that the situation 'remains volatile'. Speaking on Monday, Mr Lammy also confirmed that the British embassy in Tehran is now operating remotely after staff were evacuated from the centre on Friday. 'Our ability to support British nationals still in Iran is extremely limited. The House will know the Foreign Office has advised against travel to Iran since 2019. Those seeking to cross through its land crossings can contact the FCDO for assistance', he said. While the Tories took a position supporting UK policy on the crisis, shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel pushed him on his refusal to confirm the legality of the US actions. Dame Priti told the Commons: "The government has not taken a clear position on the actions that the US and Israel have taken, but we have seen reports of the apparent legal advice from the attorney general (Lord Hermer) cautioning against UK involvement, and while I appreciate that the Foreign Secretary cannot comment on any legal advice, does the Government have a position on the lawfulness of these strikes? "And does he welcome the ends as well as the means to achieve this? Does he share my cynicism about Iran's attempt to cloak itself in the UN Charter - that's the same UN Charter it has undermined with its brutality for decades?" However, the Lib Dems have condemned the Trump administration's actions. Foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller said that the actions of the US and Israel have 'increased uncertainty and the risk of a full scale regional war.' He accused the United States of having 'eroded the rules based international order' and undermining the 'prospect of containing Iran.' Mr Miller took aim at the Tories and Reform UK for having 'breathlessly echoed president Trump's line that these strikes have been an unrivalled success', citing reports that Iran plans to 'work at pace to develop weapons with what remains of their enriched uranium supplies'.
Daily Mail
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Shelter in place ordered for Americans in Qatar amid growing fears of Iran retaliation
The US Embassy in Qatar has ordered Americans in the nation to 'shelter in place' as fears grow of an Iranian retaliation to the US strikes on Saturday night. The Embassy warned Americans to seek shelter 'out of an abundance of caution.' It did not say how long the shelter in place order is expected to last. There are up to 15,000 American residents in Qatar, and the United States also has 19 military facilities in the Middle East nation. Qatar has served as an intermediary between the United States and Iran in the past and was coordinating negotiations over Iran's nuclear resources earlier this month before Israel ended the talks by attacking Iran on June 13. This is a developing story, check back for updates.
South China Morning Post
22-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Iran retaliating against US inevitable as window for diplomacy narrows: analysts
Iranian retaliation against the American air strikes ordered by President Donald Trump is inevitable, despite a diplomatic backchannel message from Washington to Tehran before the attack that it was intended as a one-off, according to analysts. The only uncertainty, Middle East experts say, is how the Islamic republic will balance its responses so as to preserve the regime and show its potency within the region – if only to buy enough time to clandestinely build nuclear warheads. 'Trump just guaranteed that Iran will be a nuclear weapons state in the next five to 10 years – particularly if the regime changes,' said Trita Parsi, executive vice-president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a Washington think tank. According to James Acton, co-director of the Carnegie Endowment's nuclear policy programme, 'retaliation – especially ballistic missile strikes against US regional assets – is highly likely'. But what comes next, including the US response, is unclear. 'That's why this may well not be 'one and done'', despite Trump's warning to Tehran not to retaliate, Acton said.
