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Egypt Independent
4 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.
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First Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
This Week in Explainers: Were Iran's nuclear sites ‘totally obliterated' as Trump claims?
The war between Israel and Iran is over. At the centre of this conflict were Iran's crucial nuclear sites, which US President Donald Trump claims were 'totally obliterated' by US strikes. But is there any conclusive proof? We talk about the conflicting narratives and more in our weekly wrap read more A woman shows the victory sign outside a house, following an Israeli strike on a building on Monday, after the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, in Tehran, on June 26. Reuters After 12 days of intense missile attacks and with the US stepping in, the '12-day war' between Israel and Iran ended on Tuesday (June 24). It came hours after Iran launched an attack on the US-run airbase in Qatar. You'd think the US would hit back harder, but instead, Donald Trump took to Truth Social and announced a ceasefire. Tehran, it turns out, informed the US and Qatar about the largely symbolic strikes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD After ceasefire violations and a miffed Trump dropping the F-bomb, the fragile truce between Israel and Iran has been holding. With the conflict ending, it's time for assessment. While the US president insists that Iran's key nuclear sites are 'totally obliterated', reports from US and European intelligence talk about severe damage. What's the truth? It's hard to say. In the US, the New York City mayoral primary caught everyone's attention. Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Indian-origin state assemblyman, became the Democratic candidate for NYC mayor after he beat former governor Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani made history as the first Muslim nominee, but he is receiving backlash from across the spectrum, be it from Donald Trump or Indian politicians. Talking about history, the Axiom-4 mission , carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the ISS, finally took off on Wednesday (June 25). Shukla became the first India to travel to the space station along with three other crew members. It was a big moment for Poland and Hungary as well, which also sent their astronauts – Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu – to space for the first time in nearly half a century. Now let's talk about the 'Wedding of the Century'. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos married former TV journalist Lauren Sanchez at a grand ceremony in Venice. The couple faced protests and were forced to change their venue, but can anything ruin a party when you are the world's third-richest man? The most famous and influential descended upon Venice for a celebration that cost up to €40 million (Rs 400 crore). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We talk about all this and more in our weekly roundup. 1. After the US attacked Iran's key nuclear sites, a retaliation was expected. The Islamic Republic launched missiles at the US-run Al Udeid Air Base, a key military facility in West Asia. However, there were no casualties or damage. In fact, Iran gave Qatar and the Trump administration a prior notice about the strikes. Here's why. 2. After Iran attacked the US air base, the war took an unexpected turn. Donald Trump announced a ceasefire on Truth Social. Now all three sides – the US, Israel, and Iran – are claiming victory. But who actually won? And how did entering the conflict benefit America? This story explains. A man passes next to a mural after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, in Haifa, Israel, June 25. Both sides have claimed victory in the conflict. Reuters 3. Trump maintains that Iranian nuclear sites were 'totally obliterated'. Israel shares a similar story. Intelligence assessment by the US and EU talk of 'severe damage' However, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, insists that the US strikes did not 'accomplish anything significant' to disrupt Iran's nuclear programme. How much damage has been caused to the facilities? It's hard to tell. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 4. In American politics, a 33-year-old son of an Indian-American filmmaker has grabbed headlines. Zohran Mamdani won the New York mayoral primary, becoming the Democratic candidate for the race . The first Muslim nominee, Mamdani, however, is getting brickbats from all around. Supporters attend a watch party for Zohran Mamdani's primary election in New York City. Mamdani defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo to become the Democratic candidate for New York City mayor. Reuters 5. Finally, the Axiom-4 mission took off after six delays. With this, India's astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla became the first from the country to travel to the International Space Station. But life in space comes with challenges of its own. 'I am learning like a baby how to walk and eat in space,' Shukla said in one of his first remarks during the spaceflight. So what happens to your body in space? This explainer answers the question. Axiom Mission 4 successfully docked with the @Space_Station on 26 June 2025 at 16:15 hrs IST. Team ISRO, led by Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, ISRO, witnessed the historical moment from the Mission Control Room at @NASA_Johnson, Houston. Welcome ceremony of Axiom… — ISRO (@isro) June 26, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 6. Last year, the South Korean government implemented a nationwide ban on the sale of dog meat for consumption. The landmark legislation comes into effect in 2027. Farmers have time until then to shut operations and sell off the remaining canines. This leaves 500,000 dogs and thousands of farmers in a limbo . A dog in a cage is pictured during a protest to demand that the government scrap plans to enforce a ban on eating dog meat. File photo/Reuters 7. The 'Wedding of the Century' took place in Venice. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former TV journalist Lauren Sanchez exchanged vows on Friday (June 27). What followed was a grand celebration. From politicians to businessmen and celebrities, the who's who of the world thronged the San Giorgio island. Here's how much the wedding cost . Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez Bezos embrace, as they leave on a boat from Aman Venice hotel, on the third day of their wedding festivities, in Venice, Italy, June 28. Reuters That's all from us this week. Happy reading. If you like taking a deep dive into the news, come back for more explainers here .
Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Who was Mohammad Reza Seddiqi Saber, Iran's top nuclear scientist killed in Israel strike?
Iran reportedly lost as many as 14 senior nuclear scientists in the strikes launched by Israel as the war in the Middle East finally reached a fragile ceasefire agreement. Among them was Mohammad Reza Seddiqi Saber, head of a unit engaged in nuclear projects, who was killed in an overnight Israeli strike in northern Iran, according to a BBC report citing Iranian officials and state TV. Saber was killed at his parents' home in Astaneh-ye Ashrafiyeh, located in Gilan province. The deputy governor of Gilan said that four apartments were reduced to rubble by an explosion in a residential building. The 51-year-old was the head of the Shahid Karimi Group under Iran's Organisation of Defensive Innovation and Research (known by its Persian acronym, SPND), a unit working on explosives-related projects, according to the US State Department. He was associated with activities related to the research and testing of technologies applicable to nuclear explosive devices. Saber had been added to the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals list and was subject to secondary sanctions as well. Last month, the US had imposed sanctions on Saber, saying that he was 'linked to projects including research and testing applicable to the development of nuclear explosive devices.' Saber's 17-year-old son was also killed in an earlier round of strikes on June 13, AP reported. With scores killed and hundreds injured, the war has heightened fears of further escalation, after the US carried out strikes targeting three of Iran's key nuclear sites — Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow — two days ago. In retaliation, Iran targeted the US-run Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar. The Israel-Iran war, the biggest military confrontation ever between the Middle East arch-foes, continued into its 12th day on Tuesday, with both nations launching missile strikes against each other despite a ceasefire agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump.
Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Bunker buster' to ‘Khorramshahr': Missiles used by US and Iran in the war
The Middle East conflict has sharply escalated after the United States entered the fray by launching strikes on three key Iranian nuclear sites — Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow — three days ago. In retaliation, Iran targeted the US-run Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar. However, the attack was intercepted by American forces. Despite US President Donald Trump's announcement of a ceasefire, hostilities have continued unabated for the 12th consecutive day, with both Tel Aviv and Tehran exchanging attacks. Amid the ongoing war, here's a breakdown of a few of the bombs and missiles recently deployed by Israel, Iran, and the US, which have left hundreds dead, thousands injured, and many displaced. 'Bunker Buster' The US military deployed its most powerful non-nuclear bomb, the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, also known as the 'bunker buster.' This weapon, carried by the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, is specifically engineered to destroy deeply buried targets, including hardened bunkers and underground facilities. According to the US Air Force, the MOP weighs roughly 13,000 kg , stretches 20.5 feet in length, and can penetrate up to 60 meters of earth before detonation. It is encased in a high-performance steel alloy that allows it to withstand impact while delivering a massive explosive payload. Tomahawk Cruise Missiles Alongside the bunker buster, the US launched Tomahawk cruise missiles—long-range, precision-guided weapons designed for deep land-attack warfare. First used during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the Tomahawk can be launched from US Navy surface ships, submarines, and UK Royal Navy submarines. In the latest offensive, they played a key role in damaging Iran's strategic infrastructure. Iran, which has repeatedly stated its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, responded to the US strikes and Israel's growing threats with an aggressive missile campaign. Sejjil Missile Iran deployed the Sejjil missile — a two-stage, solid-fuel, medium-range ballistic missile — to strike Israeli targets. The missile reportedly reduced large parts of Tel Aviv to rubble. With a range of 2,000 km and a payload capacity of around 700 kg, the Sejjil has a launch weight of 23,600 kg. In service since 2021, it is a key component of Iran's regional missile arsenal. Khorramshahr Missile Also used in the retaliatory barrage was the Khorramshahr missile, a liquid-fueled, medium-range ballistic missile believed to be based on North Korea's Musudan (BM-25) platform. The Khorramshahr is capable of carrying multiple warheads, with a maximum payload of up to 1,800 kg. It has an estimated range of 2,000 km, a length of 13 meters, and a body diameter between 1.5 to 2 meters, weighing between 19,000 to 26,000 kg at launch. With inputs from Missile Threat website, CSIS Missile Defense Project
Yemen Online
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Yemen Online
Iran says it launched missiles at US base near Qatari capital
Iran launched a missile attack Monday on at the US-run al Udeid air base military base in Qatar, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites. The announcement was made on state television as martial music played, AP reported on Monday. A caption on screen called it 'a mighty and successful response by the armed forces of Iran to America's aggression.' Reuters had shortly earlier reported that explosions were heard over Qatar's capital Doha, shortly after a Western diplomat said there had been a credible Iranian threat against the US-run al Udeid air base in the Gulf Arab state since midday. The diplomat spoke soon after Qatar announced it had closed its air space temporarily to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. Earlier, the US embassy in Qatar had advised Americans to shelter in place, out of what it said was "an abundance of caution". Axios, citing an Israeli official, reported on Monday that Iran had launched several missiles toward US bases in Qatar. At least 10 missiles were launched towards Qatar and at least one missile towards Iraq, the official said. Iran has issued threats to retaliate against the United States after US bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-busters on the country's underground nuclear installations over the weekend, while President Donald Trump openly raised the possibility of the Iranian government being toppled. Earlier on Monday, Israel struck a jail for political prisoners in Tehran in a potent demonstration that it was expanding its targets beyond military and nuclear sites to aim squarely at the pillars of Iran's ruling system. Two US officials said Washington assessed that Iran could carry out attacks targeting American forces in the Middle East soon, although the US is still seeking a diplomatic resolution that would see Tehran forgo any reprisal. Despite Iran's threats to challenge oil shipments from the Gulf, oil prices largely held steady, suggesting traders doubted the Islamic Republic would follow through on any action that would disrupt global supplies. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow as Tehran sought backing from one of its last major power friends for its next steps.
