Iran launches missile attacks on US bases in Qatar, Donald Trump calls strike ‘very weak'

West Australian

4 hours ago

Iran has launched a missile attack on a United States military base in Qatar in its first act of retaliation since America bombed three of its nuclear sites.
A US Defence Department spokesperson confirmed the attack but said no casualties have been reported. The spokesperson said Iran used short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles, and the US is continuing to monitor the situation.
President Donald Trump has taken to Truth Social to describe the attack as a 'very weak response'.
'There have been 14 missiles fired — 13 were knocked down, and 1 was 'set free,' because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction,' he said.
'I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done. Most importantly, they've gotten it all out of their 'system,' and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE.
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 authorities also confirmed there were no casualties in the attack, which it condemned and said it reserved the right to respond.
The attack came shortly after Qatar closed its airspace as a precaution and the US and UK urged its citizens in the country to 'shelter in place'.
Iran coordinated its strikes on US bases, prompting the air space closure, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday.
The New York Times, which first reported the coordination, said Iran took the action to minimise casualties.
Just before the explosions, 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'.
In addition, the US Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq had activated its air defence system out of concern of a potential attack, military sources told Reuters.
Earlier on Monday, Israel bombed 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.
Despite Iran's threats to challenge oil shipments from the Gulf, oil prices largely held steady, suggesting traders doubted Iran would follow through on any action that would disrupt global supplies.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow as Iran sought backing from one of its last major power friends for its next steps.
- With AAP