Iran Launches Missile Attack on US Base in Qatar
Iran launched a missile attack Monday on a US military base in Qatar, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites.
Witnesses reported seeing missiles in the skies, followed by explosions.
Iran announced on state television that it attacked American forces stationed at Qatar's Al Udeid Air Base. A caption on screen called it 'a mighty and successful response" to "America's aggression.'
The attack came shortly after Qatar closed its airspace as a precaution amid threats from Iran.
A statement by the Qatari Foreign Ministry said on X that the move comes to ensure safety of residents and visitors.
"The competent authorities announce the temporary suspension of air traffic in the country's airspace, as part of a set of precautionary measures taken based on developments in the region," the Ministry said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Argaam
27 minutes ago
- Argaam
Understanding ‘Neo-Orientalist' Narratives in Western Media
This is just one example of how our region has been portrayed in countless of articles in Western media, entrenching stereotypical and ignorant (perhaps on purpose) views of our region. Let's take another one. 'Saudi Arabia needs to bring in foreign capital to continue spending." Such a statement, again in a recent article published by a prominent Western media outlet that helps shape the Western investors' perception of the world not just our region, encourages critical thinking on how seemingly straightforward economic statements in a supposedly 'impartial' journalistic outlet may carry subtle ideological and politically-motivated meanings. These two portrayals of Saudi economy and the Arabian Gulf reflect a systematic and common narrative found in Western discourse regarding, which I refer to in this article as 'neo-orientalism.' This concept builds upon Edward Said's seminal theory of Orientalism, which critiques how Western representations have historically constructed and perpetuated stereotypical and often reductive images of the 'Orient' to serve certain interests in the West. By largely ignoring in their 'analytical' pieces strong and factual economic indicators like the expansion in Saudi non-oil sectors over the past years, especially manufacturing, mining and renewable energy, these narratives perpetuate outdated assumptions that fail to reflect the selfdependent modernity in Saudi Arabia and its evolving economy. This selective reporting thus reveals a tendency to understate or sideline substantive economic achievements that do not fit their preconceived frames. Factual data speaks louder than words. The Saudi real GDP growth from non-oil activities reached 3.9% in 2024, driven by continued investment expansion in the non-oil sectors. These sectors contributed last year with 51% to Saudi Arabia's economy, marking a literally historic achievement in the Kingdom's e_orts to develop the non-oil sector since the launch of Vision 2030 in 2016. Non-oil GDP remained resilient at 4.2% y/y growth in Q1 this year. Non-oil activities expanding robustly by 4.3%, while non-oil exports surged 13.4% y/y. In March, manufacturing output surged by 5.1% y/y. This pattern highlights both the sector's growing importance to non-oil GDP. Oil income accounted for just 56% of total government revenues in Q1 2025 (before the eruption of large-scale military confrontation between Israel and Iran on June 12), down from 62% a year earlier. An objective analysis of these data suggests that such genuine economic progress in the kingdom challenges the prevalent neo-orientalist discourse often found in some Western media narratives. Neo-orientalism tends to emphasize dependency, dysfunction and mismanagement in our region while minimizing or overlooking positive developments. With mineral reserves now estimated at SR9.37 trillion ($2.5 trillion), a 90 percent increase since 2016 due to new discoveries of rare earth elements and other valuable resources, Saudi Arabia exhibits clear potential to expand beyond oil dependence. Additionally, the construction of the world's largest single-site solar power plant in the kingdom, anticipated to generate 2,060 megawatts by 2025, signifies a strategic commitment to renewable energy and the strategic planning to become a hub of electricity exporter to the region and Europe. The proactive push to integrate global tech companies (like the recent Chinese Lenovo) into local manufacturing further reflects a forward-looking economic vision. I argue that Western media coverage in their 'analysis' and 'in-depth reporting' is rooted in a neoorientalist framework, which overlook these multifaceted advances, while instead emphasizing government budget deficit related to declining oil revenues. Such emphasis on fiscal challenges, without equal attention to diversification e_orts and resource development, limits the depth of economic analysis and reflect political motivations in shaping a simplified narrative to their readers. A more comprehensive perspective would consider both the challenges and the substantive initiatives underway, thus providing a balanced understanding of our region. Today, old Orientalism has been dressed up and made to look new, like a smart business suit hiding the same old stereotypes and oversimplification.
Arab News
36 minutes ago
- Arab News
Gaza rescuers say Israeli forces killed 21 people waiting for aid
GAZA CITY: Gaza's civil defense agency said Israeli forces killed 21 people waiting for aid near a distribution site in the center of the Palestinian territory on Tuesday, the latest deadly incident targeting aid-seekers. Civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that 21 people were killed and around 150 wounded 'as a result of the Israeli occupation forces' targeting of gatherings of citizens waiting for aid... in the central Gaza Strip with bullets and tank shells' in the early hours of Tuesday. AFP has contacted the Israeli military for comment on the incident. Israeli restrictions on media in the Gaza Strip and difficulties in accessing some areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by rescuers and authorities in the Palestinian territory. Bassal added that five people were killed and several injured in an Israeli air strike that targeted a house in Gaza City at dawn. Thousands of Palestinians have gathered daily in the hope of receiving food rations in Gaza, as famine looms across the territory after more than 20 months of war. According to figures issued on Saturday by the health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, at least 450 people have been killed and nearly 3,500 injured by Israeli fire while seeking aid since late May. Many of those have been near sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, according to rescuers. The privately run foundation's operations in Gaza have been marred by chaotic scenes. UN agencies and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with it over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives. Israel's opposition leader on Tuesday called for an end to the war in Gaza, after Israel announced it had agreed to a ceasefire with Iran. 'And now Gaza. It's time to finish it there too. Bring back the hostages, end the war,' Yair Lapid wrote on X.
Asharq Al-Awsat
an hour ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Arab Parliament, Arab League Chief Condemn Iranian Attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar
The Arab Parliament strongly condemned the attack launched by Iran on the State of Qatar, describing it as a blatant and unacceptable violation of Qatari sovereignty and a clear breach of international law. In a statement, the Arab Parliament affirmed its full solidarity with the State of Qatar and its complete support for any measures it takes to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. It also reiterated its warning against the expansion of the conflict in the region and the risks of further escalation that could undermine security and stability. Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit also condemned Iran's attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, describing it as a completely unacceptable violation of Qatari sovereignty. Aboul Gheit emphasized the Arab League's full solidarity with the State of Qatar in response to this Iranian violation, which contravenes international law. He also stressed the right of Arab states to defend and preserve their sovereignty against any external aggression. Iran launched a missile attack Monday on a US military base in Qatar, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites.
