Donald Trump's bold message after missiles fired at US base

Daily Mirror

5 hours ago

Ceasefire has been reached between Israel and Iran, according to Donald Trump after what he has claimed was a "12-day war".
The world leader said on Truth Social tonight both nations showed great "stamina, courage and intelligence" to reach an end to the conflict, he stresses "could have gone on for years".
"On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, 'THE 12 DAY WAR.' This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn't, and never will! God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD," part of a lengthy message reads.
Just hours previously, the President had issued a scathing taunt to Iran after they launched an attack on a US air base in Qatar but "13 were knocked down and one was 'set free' because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction'
He called it a "very weak response". Meanwhile, initial reports from Iranian state media said a US base in Iraq had also been targeted but it is understood the Qatar attack was the only one detected.
Donald Trump has posted on Truth Social: "CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE (in approximately 6 hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!), for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED!
"Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World. During each CEASEFIRE, the other side will remain PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL. On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, 'THE 12 DAY WAR.'
"This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn't, and never will! God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD!"
Air traffic over the Gulf states is gradually resuming after it was temporarily closed due to Iran's attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, according to analysis by Flightradar24.
Kuwait and Bahrain have reopened their airspace, state news media in both countries reported, hours after air traffic was suspended for safety reasons.
A senior administration official has told ABC News that Trump was inside the Oval Office when Iran launched its retaliatory strike on the US base in Qatar.
The attack happened whrn the US president received his national security briefing in the Oval Office, as listed on his public schedule.
The base attacked by Iran on Monday hosts thousands of US 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 US troops, and that number dropped to about 8,000 as of 2022.
The forward headquarters of the US military's Central Command, it also was used in the fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
Al Udeid is built on a flat stretch of desert about 20 miles (30km) southwest of Qatar's capital, Doha.
Over two decades, the gas-rich Gulf country has spent some $8 billion (£6 billion) in developing the base, once considered so sensitive that American military officers would say only that it was somewhere "in southwest Asia".
Shortly after the US lifted its shelter-in-place advice for its citizens in Qatar, the UK did the same.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) had issued the warning "until further notice" ahead of the Iranian attack.
But in an update on its website, it now says: "Following interceptions of Iranian missiles fired towards Qatar, the FCDO has been in touch with the local authorities and international partners, and reviewed the security situation.
"British nationals do not need to shelter in place and should continue to follow advice from the local authorities."
Israel's military has issued an evacuation warning for people in District 7 of Tehran.
The IDF posted on X: "The IDF is continuing to operate in the area, as it has in recent days across Iran, targeting the Iranian regime's military infrastructure."
It urged people to "immediately" evacuate an area it marked on a map shared in the social media post.
هشدار فوری به کلیه افراد مستقر در منطقه 7 تهران بر اساس ناحیه مشخص شده قرمز رنگ بر روی نقشه ضمیمه ارتش اسرائیل همچنان که در روزهای اخیر در سراسر ایران برای حمله به زیرساخت های نظامی رژیم ایران اقدام کرده است، در این ناحیه فعالیت خواهد نمود. شهروندان گرامی، بمنظور امنیت… pic.twitter.com/etjfe85KlI
Qatar has reopened its airspace after a brief suspension, its civil aviation authority said early on Tuesday (local time).
A number of airlines, from major to low-budget, have temporarily cancelled their planned flights in the Middle East amid the increasing conflict between Iran and Israel.
Here, we have listed all the planned flights known to be suspended at the time of writing, broken down by carrier.
However, please note that information is liable to change at any moment and to check with the airline if you think your flight is affected.
Gas prices in the US are expected to rise in further days, according to Andy Lipow of Lipow Oil Associates.
Prices rose five cents to $3.22 (£2.38) per gallon (3.7 litres) when Israel struck Iran's nuclear facilities - and could now rise even more after Trump's intervention at the weekend.
Mr Lipow told the Daily Mail that over the coming days, petrel price sin the US could reach $3.27 (£2.42) per gallon.
The expert said: "It usually takes about a week or two for the change in oil prices in the futures market to filter into the gasoline price at the pump.
"Early when the market opened we were seeing futures up about 10 cents a gallon, but it's now only five cents a gallon, while diesel futures are up about 10 cents a gallon.
"Over the next week we expect gasoline prices overall will continue to rise another five to six cents a gallon."
Speaking before Iran's attack on a US air base in Qatar, Mr Lipow had warned that "any retaliatory attacks could impact gas prices further."
Currently, it's not clear whether or, if it it happens - how - prices could change after the latest attack.
Donald Trump has claimed that America "expected" Iran's missile strike on a US base in Qatar and "very effectively countered" the barrage.
In the aftermath of the Iranian retaliation, the US President played down the scale and severity of the attack, describing it as a "very weak response."
"There have been 14 missiles fired - 13 were knocked down, and one was 'set free,' because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction," Trump said. "I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done."
Trump then thanked Iran for allegedly providing advance warning of the strike. "Most importantly, they've gotten it all out of their 'system,' and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE," he wrote.
"I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured.
"Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same."
Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed bin Mohammed Al-Ansari has said his country consider's Iran's attack on the US air base "surprising" given Qatar's "stances, its commitment to good neighbourliness, and its approach to mediation in resolving crises."
Qatar says Iran fired 19 missiles at the US air base and one hit but caused no casualties.
Maj. Gen. Shayeq Al Hajri told reporters that seven missiles were fired from Iran and all were intercepted over the water between the two countries by Qatari air defenses.
Iran then fired 12 more missiles and 11 were intercepted over Qatari territory, but one hit the US base, Al Hajri said.
The US embassy in Qatar has lifted a shelter-in-place order on Monday evening.
The embassy, which had told American citizens to shelter in place earlier today, said in a notice posted on its website that it would reopen on Tuesday.
In a separate post on Truth Social, Trump declared it's now "time for peace".
Trump said no US or Qatari citizens were killed in today's attack as he thanked the "Highly Respected Emir of Qatar for all that he has done in seeking Peace for the Region."
Writing on Truth Social, the US president said: "I'd like to thank the Highly Respected Emir of Qatar for all that he has done in seeking Peace for the Region.
"Regarding the attack today at the American Base in Qatar, I am pleased to report that, in addition to no Americans being killed or wounded, very importantly, there have also been no Qataris killed or wounded. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
Donald Trump has said Iran gave "early notice" of the attack on the US air base in Qatar, which "made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured."
The US president said he hopes there will be "no further HATE" after the attack - adding he encourages both Israel and Iran to find peace.
This is the full statement he shared on his social media platform, Truth Social:
A flight from Manchester Airport to Doha is heading back to the UK after being diverted following Iran's attack on a US base in Qatar.
Flight QTR36R had reached the Turkish coast when it was diverted following the latest Middle Eastern clashes. Currently the Qatar Airways flight is heading back over the Balkans in the Eastern Europe.
More on the story here.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, has insisted his country will not surrender.
"We have not violated anyone's rights, nor will we ever accept anyone's violation; this is the logic of the Iranian nation," Khamenei said in a statement posted on social media.
The UK Foreign Office is advising against all travel to Iran and urges British nationals in the region to follow local guidance.
It has also updated its travel advice for Qatar, warning British nationals to shelter in place "out of an abundance of caution" following a US security alert in the country.
In updated guidance, it 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."
The United Arab Emirates has condemned Iran's attack on the Al Udeid Air Base.
In a statement reported by state-run news agency WAM, the UAE said: "The UAE condemns in the strongest terms the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's targeting of Al Udeid Air Base in the State of Qatar, considering it a blatant violation of Qatar's sovereignty and airspace, and a clear contravention of international law and the UN Charter.
"The UAE affirms its categorical rejection of any attack that threatens the security and safety of the State of Qatar and the region."
Iraq's foreign ministry said in a statement Monday that "regional crises can only be resolved through dialogue, resorting to diplomatic channels, and avoiding military options, which only bring further escalation and suffering."
The statement stopped short of condemning the attack by Iran on a US base in Qatar, but said Iraq is "following with deep concern the dangerous and accelerating escalation in the region."
Baghdad has close ties to both Washington and Tehran and has attempted to strike a delicate balance between them.
Iraq also announced a complete closure of its airspace. Most of the country's airspace was already closed due to the ongoing Israel-Iran war, but the airport in the southern city of Basra had been open until Monday.
Kuwait has also announced the closure of its airspace "as a precautionary measure, effective from today until further notice."
The country's civil aviation said: "The relevant authorities confirm that this decision is made within the framework of maintaining the highest levels of safety and security amid regional developments, with continuous coordination with competent authorities locally and internationally to monitor developments and take necessary measures."
EgyptAir has the cancellation of all flights from Cairo to Gulf countries "until the situation in the region stabilises."
The airline said: "Due to the ongoing events in the region and the closure of airspace in several Gulf countries, EgyptAir flights from Cairo Airport to and from Gulf cities and vice versa have been cancelled until the situation in the region stabilises."
Qatar Airways has confirmed the temporary suspension of its flights.
The airline said it will resume operations when the airspace re-opens.
Temporary Suspension of Qatar Airways FlightsAs a result of the closure of air traffic movement in the State of Qatar, we can confirm the temporary suspension of Qatar Airways flights.We are working closely with government stakeholders and the relevant authorities to support…
Flights are landing and taking off again in the United Arab Emirates, according to a post on X by Flightradar24, which tracks real-time air traffic.
Flightradar24 added that more than 10 flights earlier had to divert from the UAE.
A US official has said no other US bases in the Middle East have been attacked besides Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
The official added the US is still determining how many missiles were fired by Iran today - and said there are no reports of damage to the base at this time.
BBC Persian reporter Ghoncheh Habibiazad said residents of east and north-east Tehran have reported hearing explosions this evening.
According to Iranian outlets, such as the semi-official Mehr, the air defence has been activated in the capital.
French President Emmanuel Macron has issued a new statement after Iran launched an attack on a US air base in Qatar.
He tweeted: "I express France's solidarity with Qatar, which has been struck by Iran on its soil. I am in close contact with the country's authorities and our partners in the region.
"I call on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint, de-escalate, and return to the negotiating table. This spiral of chaos must end."
A Defence Department official is confirming a missile attack from Iran on a US military base in Qatar but says no casualties have been reported.
The official said that Al Udeid Air Base was attacked by short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles. The US is continuing to monitor the situation, said the official.
The confirmation came soon after Iran acknowledged the missile attacks, saying the attack in Qatar matched the number of bombs dropped by the United States on its nuclear sites over the weekend, signalling its likely desire to de-escalate.
America's attack on Iran has triggered growing fears of a wave of terror hitting the UK as Iran-backed footsoldiers take deadly revenge.
Britain is considered a prime target for terrorism by Iranian regime supporters and UK streets could see blood spilled by Tehran-sponsored attackers.
It is believed both Lebanese Hezbollah and their Tehran sponsors the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps could launch hits in the UK.
Among their targets are Jewish and Israeli targets but this could also switch to the general civilian public if ordered by Tehran.
And in particular RAF bases and other military sites could also be targeted because they would get coverage and it would make the UK look vulnerable.
The terror threat level to the UK is assessed by MI5 as being at "substantial" and has been at that level for several years.