Iranian missiles fired towards US airbase in Qatar as Trump meets security team

Irish Daily Mirror

13 hours ago

Iran has officially retaliated against the US, launching a wave of missile strikes aimed at US bases in Qatar and Iraq as Trump hosts a meeting with his top security team.
According to a senior US official, the White House and Pentagon are aware of, and closely monitoring, the potential threats, including to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Iranian state media has said the missile operation 'Blessings of Victory' against US sites in Qatar and Iraq has begun.
It comes after one British national has been injured in Israel during missile attacks by Iran, David Lammy has said. The Foreign Secretary said the Middle East is now going through "a perilous moment" as the conflict continues after the US got involved too at the weekend. Strikes between Iran and Israel have now continued for 10 days.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Iran's elite soldiers are believed to have been killed after Israel struck at the "heart of Tehran" today. In fresh strikes on the ideological symbols of the Iranian regime, Israel targeted the entrance of the notorious Evin Prison - where enemies of the state are held - and the Basij Headquarters. The Basij is the shadowy paramilitary wing of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps - which the US previously prescribed as a terrorist organisation.
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Dr. Majed Al Ansari, Advisor to the Prime Minister and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, has said the country condemns that attack on the Al Udeid Air Base.
In a statement shared on X, he said Qatar "reserves the right to respond directly in a manner proportional to the nature and scale of this blatant aggression and in accordance with international law."
Dr. Al Ansari said Qatari aid defences "thwarted the attack and successfully intercepted the Iranian missiles."
The State of Qatar strongly condemns the attack that targeted Al-Udeid Air Base by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. 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…
The attack on the US air base came shortly after Qatar closed its airspace as a precaution amid threats from Iran.
Just before the explosions in Qatar, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on the social platform X: "We neither initiated the war nor seeking it.
"But we will not leave invasion to the great Iran without answer."
US President Donald Trump, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other officials are in the White House Situation Room monitoring the latest updates.
Iran has begun its "mighty and victorious" response to US strikes, state media reported this evening.
According to the state-run Tasnim agency, Iran's Revolutionary Guard launched missiles at a US base in Qatar.
Iran says it has launched an attack on US forces at Qatar's Al Udeid Air Base.
It comes after a senior administration official, who was not authorised to comment publicly, said the White House and Pentagon were aware of, and closely monitoring, the potential threats to the air base.
Explosions were heard in Qatar on Monday night as witnesses said they saw what appeared to be missiles in the skies over the country.
There was no immediate acknowledgment from Qatari authorities of any attack.
The reports emerged as Qatar closed its airspace amid Iranian threats to retaliate against the United States over its bombing early Sunday of three Iranian nuclear sites.
Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with his national security team at 1pm ET (6pm BST) at the White House.
The US president is set to discuss the threat of Iranian retaliation, which could determine how he responds, and establish whether the US will plunge deeper into Israel's war with Iran.
Tony Redondo, founder at Cosmos Currency Exchange, has said it would be "wise for consumers to fill up their tanks now" as even a partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz would have an "immediate and significant" impact on petrol prices.
The expert said the closure could spike Brent crude up 15% to over $80/barrel, pushing prices to 152p/litre very quickly, The Sun reported.
Mr Redondo als warned a full closure could see oil hit $100-$150, driving petrol up towards £2/litre, saying: "That's why now could be a smart time to fill up your tank before any further hikes come into effect."
Please note, you should only fill up your tank if you believe you need to - and most importantly, if you can afford it.
Ken James, Director at Contractor Mortgage Services, said crude oil could soar "well beyond $150 (£111) per barrel - levels not seen since the 2008 financial crisis."
He explained: "While the final decision rests with Iran's powerful Security Council and has not yet been made, the symbolic move has begun to send shockwaves through energy markets.
"Analysts warn that any actual closure could ignite a sharp spike in oil prices, with estimates suggesting crude could soar well beyond $150 per barrel - levels not seen since the 2008 financial crisis. Investor sentiment is already showing signs of a risk-off shift.
"Safe-haven assets like gold, US Treasuries, and the Swiss franc could see significant inflows if tensions escalate. As markets await a final decision from Tehran, traders are on high alert. The Strait of Hormuz may still be open for now but the global economic ripple effects are already being felt."
The worst possible outcome is least likely and that involves Iran declaring all-out war on America and Israel, says our Defence and Security Editor Chris Hughes.
He writes: "This would happen if the Iranian regime miscalculated and goes too far when it makes a revenge gesture of reply to the United States.
"The problem is that US President Donald Trump has warned Tehran will be hit by far worse if it does hit US interests so that starts a cycle of escalating violence.
"I believe if Iran does something below the threshold for war then America may be forced to let it pass and give Iran that off-ramp, saving face and avoiding all-out war."
To read the full story, click here.
Shelter in place is a public safety protocol which means finding a safe location indoors and staying there until you are given an "all clear" or told to evacuate.
It can be invoked during various emergencies including extreme weather, chemical or radiological hazards, or even active shooter situations.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel advice for Qatar to recommend British nationals in the Gulf state "shelter in place".
In an update to the page, the FCDO said: "Following a US security alert for US nationals in Qatar, out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that British nationals in Qatar shelter in place until further notice. Follow instructions from local authorities.
"The FCDO is in contact with local authorities and international partners, and will provide further updates as the situation develops."
There are fears that petrol prices could increase if Iran decides to close the Strait of Hormuz, which sees around a fifth of the world's global oil supply pass through.
After the US attacked nuclear facilities at the weekend, Iran's parliament voted to close the strait - but this requires approval from the country's Supreme National Security Council.
This could lead to oil prices surge - and when the market opened earlier today Brent Crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, hit $81.40 (£60.41) a barrel.
However, it later dropped to trade 0.3% lower on the day at $76.76 (£56.97) by early afternoon in the UK.
To see which other everyday items could go up in price as a result of the conflict, click here.
Israel's military is warning Iranians it will continue to attack military sites around Tehran over "the coming days."
The military issued the warning on social media, though Iranians are struggling to access the outside world because of an internet shutdown in the country.
The warning says "we ask you to stay away from weapons production centres, military bases and security institutions affiliated with the regime."
Iran has criticised the warnings as a way to scare its public. However, the Israelis have carried out strikes after their warnings multiple times in the war.
One British national has been injured in Israel during missile attacks by Iran, David Lammy has said.
In a statement to the Commons, the Foreign Secretary said: "This is a perilous moment in the Middle East, waves of strikes between Israel and Iran have now lasted for 10 days, continuing overnight.
"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."
South Africa is calling on the United States, Israel and Iran to allow the United Nations to lead diplomatic efforts to find a resolution to the conflict.
It is also calling on them to allow an inspection and verification of Iran's uranium enrichment and its nuclear capacity.
South Africa has strong diplomatic ties with Iran, which the Trump administration has criticised.
The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah has indicated that the group will not join the war between Iran and Israel for now.
Naim Kassem spoke in his first public comments since the US inserted itself into the war on Sunday. He said his group is ready to back any decision taken by the Lebanese state to force Israel to stop the war.
He also told the Iran-backed group's Al-Ahad newspaper in a report published Monday that the attacks on Iran will "have a high cost" as the whole region is in danger, and says Donald Trump's threats to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei are a "vile act and a sign of weakness."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says US operations in the Middle East haven't changed despite Trump raising the possibility of what he called "regime change" in Iran on Sunday.
"The president was just simply raising a question that I think many people around the world are asking," Leavitt told reporters on Monday.
She added: "If they refuse to engage in diplomacy moving forward, why shouldn't the Iranian people rise up against this brutal terrorist regime?"
US President Donald Trump has called for oil prices to stay down amid fears Iran could retaliate to US strikes by closing the Strait of Hormuz, the world's busiest oil shipping channel.
In a post shared to TruthSocial, Mr Trump said: "Everyone, keep oil prices down.
"I'm watching. You're playing right into the hands of the enemy. Don't do it."
Donald Trump shocked the world when he boasted the US had "totally obliterated" Iran's nuclear sites during "Operation Midnight" - but what sparked such drastic action?
President Trump claimed on Sunday that the US had carried out a "successful" bombing attack on three nuclear sites in Iran after more than a week of strikes by Israel on Iran that have moved to systematically eradicate the country's air defences and offensive missile capabilities, while damaging its nuclear enrichment facilities.
Israel confirmed they were in "full co-ordination" with the US in planning the strikes, which signals a significant escalation in the ongoing war between Iran and Israel.
Iran has downplayed Israel's targeted attacks on Evin prison as part of its fresh strikes on the country.
The Mizan news agency, which is affiliated with the country's judiciary, said "all necessary measures" were put in place to "protect the safety of prisoners."
It is the same prison where dual British-Iranian citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe spent four years of her sentence.
This is the moment British nationals boarded a Royal Air Force plane out of Israel - one of the first emergency evacuations since the US attacked nuclear sites in Iran.
Keir Starmer has urged British nationals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to make contact with the Foreign Office as it prepares for an evacuation flight.
Reports yesterday said evacuation flights for British citizens trapped in Israel could begin "within hours".
And today at 3pm local time a flight of around 50 people took off from Tel Aviv airport, headed for a base in Larnaca, Cyprus.
It is currently in the air. It is understood passengers will then board another plane returning to the UK.
One passenger - who wants to be anonymous - said he was notified at 3am local time that a flight would be made available to take people home. According to the Israeli Government, the flights will have a strict limit of 50 people.
The passenger on board said: "We were notified at 3am this morning."People are feeling very relieved, there are lots of empty seats on board despite people saying it is full."
Administration officials are openly speaking about regime change, saying that the Iranian people should be able to overthrow the "violent regime".
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says if Iran refuses to come to diplomatic solution, "why shouldn't the Iranian people take away the power of this incredibly violent regime?"
Some recent reports from Iran say there is a huge amount of solidarity among the Iranian people against the US and Israel, with the public demanding a strong response and a refusal of negotiations.
Israeli and American attacks on Iran's nuclear programme have had a "huge" impact, according to the UK's former ambassador to Iran.
However, Rob Macaire - who served from 2018 to 2021 - said that it's still unclear what's happened at the subterranean Fordow plant.
"The cumulative impact of the Israeli attacks and the US attacks on Iran's nuclear programme has seen huge damage," he said.
"The question is whether Iran comes out of this determined to rebuild that programme and to try to get towards a nuclear weapon as a result of this - or whether it comes out of it recognising that's not going to be an option and seeing if there is a negotiation route for them
"That is what is to play for now."
The UK government has responded to questions over its position on the US's decision to bomb Iran over the weekend.
Downing Street has issued a statement, saying: "We're clear that the prevention of Iran getting nuclear weapons is a good thing for this country.
"But our focus is on diplomacy. That is the priority and that is what every member of this government is working towards and that's been the focus of the calls with international partners over the weekend."
The spokesman added: "Iran should take the opportunity presented by the US to re-enter talks."
حمله نمادین اسرائیل به سردر زندان اوین pic.twitter.com/usisqnk7Yq
Israel Air Force strikes in Tehran/Karaji- Iranian state television buildings- Stone (Evin) Prison and another prison in Karaj- Ministry of Energy Building- Shahid Behashti University- Police/Basij regional stations Iranian media thinks these attacks are carried out by… pic.twitter.com/4zdaPYGccY
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has met with Russia's Vladimir Putin today.
The Russian leader told Araghchi: "You are visiting Russia at a difficult time, during a sharp aggravation of the situation in the region and around your country."
He said Russia is "making efforts to assist the Iranian people".
Israeli media is reporting that Israel's most recent strike in Iran has killed hundreds of members of the country's shadowy IRGC organisation.
Israel targeted a number of locations across the capital, including Evin Prison and the Basij headquarters, an Israeli official told the Jerusalem Post.
Israel Katz, the country's defence minister, said Israel is now attacking "the heart of Tehran" with "unprecedented force". He mentioned Evin as the home of political prisoners held by the regime, and the Basij headquarters as the internal security base for the revolutionary guard corps' paramilitary wing.
"For every shot fired at the Israeli home front, the Iranian dictator will be punished and the attacks will continue with full force," he says.