Donald Trump's three-word taunt for Iran after missiles fired at US base

Daily Mirror

4 hours ago

Donald Trump has broken his silence on Iran's retaliation, taunting the nation for it's 'very weak response' after a wave of missiles were launched at US bases in Qatara.
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 has begun.Initial reports from Iranian state media said a US base in Iraq had also been targeted although it is understood the Qatar attack was the only one detected. US officials have also reportedly said that no Iranian missiles hit the Qatar air base.
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.
Qatar says Iran fired 19 missiles at the US air base and one hit but caused no casualties.
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.
Donald Trump issued a weird monologue on his Truth Social website tonight, after Iran attacked US air bases in Qatar.
The US President chose to completely ignore the latest developments, and instead started rambling about "sleazebags in the media" and "fake news".
He wrote: "The sites that we hit in Iran were totally destroyed, and everyone knows it. Only the Fake News would say anything different in order to try and demean, as much as possible - And even they say they were 'pretty well destroyed!'
"Working especially hard on this falsehood is Allison Cooper of Fake News CNN, Dumb Brian L. Roberts, Chairman of 'Con'cast, Jonny Karl of ABC Fake News, and always, the Losers of, again, Concast's NBC Fake News. It never ends with the sleazebags in the Media, and that's why their Ratings are at an ALL TIME LOW - ZERO CREDIBILITY!"
UK Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said the country is "closely" monitoring the "fast-changing situation" and while saying he can't give details at this stage, he said the British government "utterly condemns any escalation."
Giving a statement in the House of Commons about protecting UK military bases, the minister said: "We have put force protection measures at its highest level to safeguard our personnel in the region.
"We have robust measures in place to protect our armed forces personnel and their safety is our top priority."
The United Arab Emirates has joined Qatar in closing its airspace, according to an analysis of flight paths and air traffic control audio by flight tracking website Flightradar24.
"Lots of aircraft are forced to turn around," the website said. Both countries are major hubs of international air travel.
The US has long had major military bases in the region - of which eight are permanent.
They are located in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Tens of thousands of US troops are based in the Middle East.
Sirens have sounded in Bahrain, the Ministry of Interior has said, urging residents to move to "the nearest safe place".
In a series of posts on X, the ministry said people should seek refuge in a building or other covered areas "until the danger has passed" and added they should take precautions "in the event of a loud explosion".
Trump visited the base and addressed US and Qatari troops there in May during a trip to the region.
Speaking to US troops at the base in May, the US president said "my priority is to end conflicts, not start them."
"But I will never hesitate to wield American power, if it's necessary, to defend the United States of America or our partners. And this is one of our great partners right here," referring to Qatar.
"When we're threatened, America's military will answer our enemies without even thinking about it. We have overwhelming strength and devastating force."
The Qatari government official said base had been evacuated earlier given the tensions in the region.
He added that there were no injuries or human casualties from the attack.
Dr. Al Ansari said: "The base had been evacuated earlier, following established security and precautionary measures, given the tensions in the region.
"All necessary steps were taken to ensure the safety of personnel at the base, including Qatari Armed Forces members, friendly forces, and others. We confirm that no injuries or human casualties resulted from the attack."
Qatar is calling for "the immediate cessation of all military actions and for a serious return to the negotiating table and dialogue," said Dr. Majed Al Ansari.
The statement, shared on X, reads: "We also emphasize that the continuation of such escalatory military actions will undermine security and stability in the region, dragging it into situations that could have catastrophic consequences for international peace and security."
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."