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Qatar Tribune
6 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Iranian attack on Al Udeid Air Base a flagrant violation of Qatar's sovereignty: MoFA spokesperson
DOHA: Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA)DrMajed bin Mohammed Al Ansari reiterated the State of Qatar's condemnation in the strongest terms of the Iranian missile attack on Qatar's Al Udeid Air Base, stating that this attack represents a flagrant violation of Qatar's sovereignty, a contravention of the principles of good neighborliness, and an assault on international legitimacy and international law. During a press conference, Al Ansari said the State of Qatar affirms that it reserves the right to respond in accordance with international law and in a manner commensurate with the nature and scale of this attack. He reassured citizens, residents, and the entire world that, thanks to Allah Almighty, and under the direct leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Qatari Armed Forces, this attack was repelled and thwarted, and that Qatari air defenses successfully intercepted the missile barrages, resulting in no significant losses. He added that continued escalation in the region will only undermine security and stability, not only in this region, but worldwide. All parties, and all countries in the region, have no choice but to return to peaceful means by returning to the negotiating table and seeking peace to achieve it for all peoples. He noted that the State of Qatar has repeatedly warned against the consequences of Israeli escalation in the region and its irresponsible behavior, the effects of which are seen today across the entire region. He explained that since the escalation of threats against bases hosting US forces in the region, the State of Qatar has taken all precautionary measures, which resulted in the failure of the Iranian attack and the protection of Qatar and its people from its consequences. The Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs considered the attack surprising in light of the positions of the State of Qatar, its commitment to good neighborliness, and its pursue of mediation to resolve crises. The State of Qatar has always been, and will always be, a believer in the option of peace and its achievement, striving to be a beacon of this peace globally. No wrongdoings by any party, in the context of any escalation in the region, will deter or dissuade it from being a driving force for peace in the region and the world at large, he added. He expressed the State of Qatar's gratitude and appreciation for the positions of all brotherly and friendly countries that have stood in solidarity with the State of Qatar in the context of this attack, noting that this stance is undoubtedly honorable in light of what the State of Qatar has been subjected to. He stressed that the situation in the country is proceeding normally, and that life is returning to normalcy without any significant threat after this attack was repelled. He noted that, as part of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education's commitment to the interests of students, exams will be postponed for one day only and will be resumed in accordance with their normal schedule on Wednesday. Al Ansari said the State of Qatar is at the highest level of safety. The valiant response to this attack is clear evidence that the precautionary measures taken since the first day of this crisis have protected the State of Qatar from any external aggression or any circumstances that could destabilize security and stability. He pointed out that Qatar's role in promoting regional and international peace will not be deterred by any wrongdoing by any party, explaining that this issue is linked to Qatari doctrine in dealing with regional and global issues. He noted that Qatar has played significant roles in recent months, whether in mediation between the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel, or even in the recent mediation between Iran and the United States, or between Iran and Israel. He added that in various countries around the world, positive Qatari efforts are being made to mediate and resolve disputes through peaceful means. The Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that this attack, or any other misguided escalation, clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of Qatar's position toward resolving conflicts through peaceful means. In this regard, he said that escalation in the region by all parties will only result in one thing: greater danger to the collective regional security, and what happened today proves that. He added that the State of Qatar, under its wise leadership, fully believes that peace is the option, and that Qatar is a locomotive toward achieving peace. He explained that the issue of responding to the Iranian attack is a sovereign matter and is currently being discussed at the highest levels. He pointed out that communication is ongoing at the political level with all brotherly and friendly countries, not only regarding the repercussions in the region, but also in general, emphasizing the importance of communicating with the US side in the context of the presence of US forces at Al Udeid Air Base. In this context, he said that coordination is ongoing with the US Embassy in Doha, as well as directly with the US side. Al Ansari explained that, given Qatar's mediation efforts, there is direct, almost daily communication at the highest levels in the country with officials in the United States to ensure positive momentum for joint roles between the two sides, especially regarding mediation. He said the region is now heading towards further escalation, and what the State of Qatar has been working on, continues to work on, and will continue to work on is ensuring an end to this escalation. Since the first day of this crisis, Qatar has warned that this escalation would drag into a very dangerous regional turning point for all, and what happened today confirms this point. He emphasized that the escalation witnessed in the region began with irresponsible practices by Israel in the region, whether in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, or Iran, in addition to its crimes committed in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, stating: If we want to put an end to the escalation in the region, the first step is to put an end to these irresponsible actions. The Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on all parties to immediately de-escalate tensions, stressing that all crises in the region and the world can only be resolved at the negotiating table, and that the State of Qatar pursues this wherever it goes, while expressing Qatar's gratitude to all brotherly and friendly countries cooperating with it in these efforts. Regarding Gulf-Iranian relations, he said that Qatar has always believed, and continue to believe, in the necessity of working on the principle of good neighborliness, which has characterized its relationship with the Iranian side. Therefore, Qatar is truly surprised by what happened today. Qatar sees this attack as a surprise, given that it has worked on this principle since day one and was one of the most important countries that undertook mediation efforts between Iran and various international parties. Qatar has always called for resolving disputes with Iran through peaceful means. He added there are deep ties between the two countries and peoples, but there is no doubt that this attack requires a sincere meeting and a clear position. while the issue of dealing with this attack and its aftermath remains up to decision-makers, who are studying this issue at the national level. He continued by saying that the Qatari role is not linked to a specific event, a pragmatic stance, and does not seek to achieve interests for Qatar. Rather, the Qatari position stems from a belief in a doctrine revealed by Allah Almighty that we should incline toward peace and always be doves of peace in this world, by leading peace efforts not only for ourselves and our interests, but for all peace-loving peoples around the world. Al Ansari pointed out that many events have occurred in recent months in which Qatar was targeted in the media and politically, noting that none of this has deterred Qatar or discouraged it from fulfilling its historic role. For his part, Deputy Chief of Staff for Joint Operations Major General Shayeq Misfer Al Hajri stated that following the recent escalation between Israel and Iran, the Ministry of Defense raised its readiness and preparedness to deal with the repercussions of this crisis, adding that after the United States participated in bombing the nuclear reactors in Iran, with Iran threatening military bases in the region that host American forces, the Qatar Armed Forces activated all plans to secure Qatar's airspace and territorial and economic waters. During the press conference, he added that air defense batteries have been deployed to protect the country's entire airspace in all directions, with aerial surveillance and protection umbrellas activated and warships deployed in Qatar's territorial and economic waters. He said that confirmed intelligence were received this evening indicating that bases hosting American forces in the region, including Al Udeid Air Base, were going to be targeted. Accordingly, the first line of action was to evacuate foreign forces from the base, followed by the evacuation of non-essential personnel in order to protect them from the potential impact of the attack. He continued saying that once the intent was confirmed, a request was sent to the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority to shut down the airspace to safeguard Qatar's inbound and outbound flights. He added that exactly at 7.30pm, the surveillance and control system reported the launch of seven missiles from northwestern Iran targeting Al Udeid Air Base, with air defense batteries engaging the missiles as soon as they entered Qatari airspace, and were all intercepted and destroyed over the sea before reaching Qatari territory. MG Al Hajri said that shortly afterward, Al Udeid Air Base was targeted again with 12 missiles, 11 of which were intercepted and fell on Qatari soil, while one missile landed inside the base, causing no casualties. He reassured the public by saying that the Qatar Armed Forces assure all citizens and residents that the forces are at the highest level of readiness to ensure the safety and stability of everyone in the country. MG Al Hajri noted that the Ministry of Defense had been managing the crisis from the outset in coordination with relevant authorities in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to exchange information and share alerts on any emergencies arising from regional developments. He congratulated the Qatar Armed Forces and the joint command tasked with this duty for their success, affirming that the Qatar Armed Forces remain ready to continue safeguarding the state's air, sea, and land sovereignty, which should put all citizen and resident at ease. MG Al Hajri said that Qatar's military capabilities, which were tested today, have reached this level by the grace of God and the support of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, noting that the capabilities used were proportionate to the escalation, adding, however, that the Armed Forces are capable of much more than what was demonstrated. He praised the level of coordination and cooperation in joint operations among all security agencies, expressing pride in the high level of professionalism in place. In turn, Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior Colonel Dr Jabr Hamoud Jabr Al Naimi affirmed that the security situation in the State of Qatar is completely stable, and that all relevant agencies are working in full harmony to ensure the safety and security of citizens, residents, and visitors. During the press conference, Colonel Al Naimi said that the Ministry of Interior had taken all preventive and precautionary measures according to pre-prepared emergency plans. He stressed that operations are ongoing in continuous coordination with security and defense agencies to ensure that daily life continues normally. He emphasized the need to avoid spreading rumors or sharing inaccurate information, urging everyone to act responsibly by refraining from sharing or reposting any unofficial information, and to rely only on official, approved channels for updates. The Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior said that the ministry, in cooperation with relevant entities, remains fully prepared and on alert to monitor developments and take necessary action to maintain public safety and security. He noted that state authorities are closely monitoring events in real-time within a well-planned security system focused on readiness and rapid response. Colonel Al Naimi said that several reports were received of falling debris in residential areas, with these incidents promptly handled in coordination with the Ministry of Defense and the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), adding that some small fires were caused by the debris and were quickly brought under control, with no injuries reported, while all incidents were addressed with high professionalism and speed. He said that in all transparency, the situation is reassuring, with it being nothing more than a temporary circumstance that will end within a few hours, adding that all risks have been addressed swiftly, efficiently, and professionally through immediate response and precise coordination among the concerned agencies. Colonel Al Naimi highlighted that the relevant authorities are monitoring the situation moment by moment and operating within an integrated security system that ensures the safety and security of everyone living in the State of Qatar.
Qatar Tribune
6 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar condemns Iran's missile attack on Al-Udeid Air Base
Tribune News Network Doha Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari has said Qatar strongly condemns the attack that targeted Al-Udeid Air Base, considering it a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, its airspace and international law. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Dr Al Ansari said Qatar reserves the right to respond in a manner equivalent with the nature and scale of this brazen aggression, in line with international law. 'We assure citizens, residents, and the entire world that, thanks to God, under the direct leadership of His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar, and with the efforts of the loyal men of the Qatari Armed Forces, the attack was repelled and thwarted,' he added. Dr Al Ansari said the State of Qatar took all precautionary measures, which resulted in the failure of the attack and the protection of Qatar and its people from its consequences.'We consider this attack surprising in light of Qatar's stances, its commitment to good neighborliness, and its approach to mediation in resolving crises,' he said. Earlier in a statement to Qatar News Agency, Dr Al Ansari reassured that Qatar's air defences successfully thwarted the attack and intercepted the Iranian missiles. He emphasised that the continuation of such escalatory military actions will undermine security and stability in the region, dragging it into situations that could have catastrophic consequences for international peace and security, calling for the immediate cessation of all military actions and for a serious return to the negotiating table and dialogue. Dr Al Ansari said Qatar was one of the first countries to warn against the dangers of Israeli escalation in the region, and have consistently called for diplomatic solutions to be prioritized and have stressed the importance of good-neighbourliness and avoiding escalation, reaffirming that dialogue is the only way to overcome the current crises and ensure the security of the region and the peace of its people. He added that the base had been evacuated earlier, following established security and precautionary measures, given the tensions in the necessary steps were taken to ensure the safety of personnel at the base.
See - Sada Elbalad
7 days ago
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Bahrain & Kuwait Reopen Airspace
Rana Atef Both Bahrain and Kuwait have reopened their airspace after a temporary closure that lasted several hours after an Iranian missile attack on the US Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Previously, five countries, namely Iraq, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain, had announced the closure of their airspace following the targeting of the Al-Udeid base in Doha. The missile strike came a day after U.S. airstrikes targeted Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Qatar's Ministry of Defense announced on Monday evening that it had successfully intercepted a missile attack targeting the Al-Udeid Air Base. In a statement posted on its official account on X (formerly Twitter), the ministry said: "Qatari air defenses successfully intercepted a missile attack targeting Al-Udeid Air Base." It added that, "Thanks to God, the vigilance of the armed forces, and precautionary measures taken, no casualties or injuries resulted from the incident." The ministry reaffirmed that "the airspace and territory of the State of Qatar remain safe, and the Qatari Armed Forces are always fully prepared to respond to any threat." The ministry also urged citizens and residents to rely on official sources for updates and guidance. Before the missile strike, Qatari authorities had already temporarily suspended air traffic in the country's airspace as part of precautionary measures in response to the evolving regional situation. Kuwait announced the reopening of its airspace and the return of operations at Kuwait International Airport to normal after confirming that surrounding conditions had stabilized. Earlier, Kuwait's Directorate General of Civil Aviation had announced a "temporary" closure of the country's airspace starting today until further notice. Bahrain also announced a full reopening of its airspace after initially suspending air traffic as a precaution in response to regional developments. In Oman, the national airline announced the temporary suspension of flights amid rising tensions in the region. In Iraq, Ministry of Transport spokesperson Metham Al-Safi told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that the country had closed its airspace to all air traffic, including over the southern region. Military sources earlier told Reuters that air defense systems had been activated at the US Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq in anticipation of a possible attack. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
India.com
7 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
'Reserves the right to respond directly': Qatar on Iran's retaliatory action
Doha: Qatar on Monday announced that it reserves the right to respond directly in a manner equivalent following Iran's retaliatory attack on the US bases in Qatar. 'We consider this a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, its airspace, international law, and the United Nations Charter. We affirm that Qatar reserves the right to respond directly in a manner equivalent to the nature and scale of this brazen aggression, in line with international law,' said Qatar's Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Majed Al Ansari. He added that the State of Qatar strongly condemns the attack that targeted Al-Udeid Air Base by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. 'We reassure that Qatar's air defences successfully thwarted the attack and intercepted the Iranian missiles. We also emphasise that the continuation of such escalatory military actions will undermine security and stability in the region, dragging it into situations that could have catastrophic consequences for international peace and security,' Ansari said. He said that Qatar calls for the immediate cessation of all military actions and for a serious return to the negotiating table and dialogue. Ansari emphasised that Qatar was one of the first countries to warn against the dangers of Israeli escalation in the region. 'We have consistently called for diplomatic solutions to be prioritised and have stressed the importance of good-neighbourliness and avoiding escalation,' Ansari said. He pointed out that reaffirmed that dialogue is the only way to overcome the current crises and ensure the security of the region and the peace of its people. Ansari added that the US base had been evacuated earlier, following established security and precautionary measures, given the tensions in the region. 'All necessary steps were taken to ensure the safety of personnel at the base, including Qatari Armed Forces members, friendly forces, and others. We confirm that no injuries or human casualties resulted from the attack,' he said. Earlier, Iran reportedly fired six missiles towards US military bases based in Iraq and Qatar. As per media reports, the operation was named 'Annunciation of Victory'. However, there have been no major impacts of the missile attack on the US bases in Qatar as American Patriot missile defence systems intercepted Iranian missiles. Reports also said that the US activated its air defence system at the Ain Al-Asad airbase in Iraq as well. Meanwhile, the White House has said that the US is closely monitoring threats to Al Udeid air base in Qatar.
The Intercept
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Intercept
U.S. Military Under Attack Again for Joining Israel's Wars
Iran launched an attack on an American military base in Qatar on Monday in retaliation for U.S. strikes on three critical nuclear sites. A U.S. official said that Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American installation in the Middle East, was attacked by short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles. 'At this time, there are no reports of U.S. casualties,' a U.S. defense official told The Intercept. 'We are monitoring this situation closely and will provide more information as it becomes available.' A Qatari official confirmed that no casualties occurred due to the attack. The Qatari official said that Al Udeid Air Base, which it shares with the United States, had been 'evacuated' prior to the attack and that all 'necessary measures were taken to ensure the safety of the base's personnel, including members of the Qatari Armed Forces, friendly forces, and others.' Iran said the strikes in Qatar matched the number of bombs dropped by the United States on its nuclear sites over the weekend, signaling its likely desire to save face at home and deescalate abroad. Iran announced the attack on state television. A caption on screen called it 'a mighty and successful response' to 'America's aggression,' according to The Associated Press. The Qatari official denounced the Iranian attack and blamed Israel for setting off the cycle of violence in the region. Trump joined Israel's war against Iran on Saturday, attacking Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan — a decision that experts say may lead to a new U.S. forever war in the Middle East. 'We express the State of Qatar's strong condemnation of the attack on Al Udeid Air Base by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, and consider it a flagrant violation of the State of Qatar's sovereignty and airspace, as well as of international law and the United Nations Charter,' the official told The Intercept, adding that Qatar was 'among the first countries to warn against the consequences of Israeli escalation in the region.' More than 40,000 U.S. active-duty military personnel and civilians working for the Pentagon are deployed across the Middle East. In recent years, the U.S. has used more than 60 bases, garrisons, or shared foreign facilities in the region. These sites range from small combat outposts to massive air bases in 13 countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. U.S. troops in the Middle East have come under attack close to 400 times, at a minimum, since October 2023 in response to the U.S.-supported Israeli war on Gaza. U.S. Navy vessels in the region have been the most frequent target, coming under attack 174 times since October 2023, Central Command told The Intercept. There have also been 'about 200' attacks on U.S. bases in the region since the Gaza war began, Pentagon spokesperson Patricia Kreuzberger told The Intercept last month. This amounted to roughly one attack every 1.5 days. This includes more than 100 attacks on U.S. outposts in Syria and a lesser number in Iraq and Jordan. A January 2024 drone attack on Tower 22, a facility in the latter country, killed three U.S. troops. Predominantly led by Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian-allied Houthi government in Yemen, the strikes include a mix of one-way attack drones, rockets, mortars, and ballistic missiles fired at fixed bases and U.S. warships across the region. Trump struck a ceasefire deal with the Houthis in May. Prior to the U.S. attacks on Saturday, the Houthis threatened to again target U.S. ships in the Red Sea if Washington joined Israel's attacks on Iran.
