Latest news with #IranMissileStrike
The National
25-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Qatar Airways CEO says passengers diverted due to Iran strike were on new flights within 24 hours
Qatar Airways' chief executive Badr Al Meer said on Wednesday that about 20,000 passengers whose flights were diverted amid an Iranian missile strike on the US Al Udeid Airbase on Monday were put on new flights within 24 hours. "This week brought an operational crisis few airlines will ever encounter, and one that challenged the very core of what it means to run a global airline,' Mr Al Meer said in a statement. Tehran launched a missile strike on the US base in retaliation for strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites at the weekend, increasing tension in the region amid the Israel-Iran conflict. Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Syria all closed their airspaces, while airports in Abu Dhabi and Dubai delayed operations. Mr Al Meer said more than 90 Qatar Airways flights to Doha were 'forced to divert immediately'. Twenty-five flights went to Saudi Arabia, 18 went to Turkey, 15 to India, 13 to Oman and five to the UAE. Other aircraft were rerouted to locations across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Mr Al Meer said about 151 Qatar Airways flights were immediately disrupted and that the airline had to adapt in real time – 'without precedent and without pause'. More than 10,000 passengers were also in transit at Hamad International Airport. 'They found themselves caught in the middle of one of the most severe and complex operational challenges in modern aviation history,' Mr Al Meer said. He said more than 11,000 passengers resumed their travel on Tuesday morning, with the others departing later that evening and on Wednesday morning. 'As of today, there are no passengers from diverted flights left stranded,' Mr Al Meer said. Other airlines also suspended, delayed, cancelled or rerouted flights in the region due to the Iranian missile strike, with Etihad Airways cancelling services to and from Tel Aviv until July 15. Emirates on Tuesday said its passengers had faced minimal disruptions, with regularly scheduled flights resuming within a few hours. 'Services to Amman and Beirut were briefly suspended but resumed quickly, demonstrating Emirates' ability to nimbly adapt its operations while prioritising safety, and helping thousands of families start their summer holidays,' the airline said in a statement. Meanwhile, Dubai-based airline flydubai said it would resume operations to Damascus starting on Thursday. It said it plans to resume its full schedule from July 1. 'We continue to monitor the situation closely and adjust our flight schedule accordingly,' flydubai chief executive Ghaith Al Ghaith said in a statement.
ABC News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Iran missile strikes at US base in Qatar a 'simple task' for air defences
All of a sudden, there were loud booms and the windows started shaking. Mehran Kamrava, a professor at Georgetown University in Qatar's capital, Doha, knew what he was supposed to do, but did the opposite. "Which was rush outside and look up in the sky," he said. "I saw these flying lights, and the night sky was not like anything I had seen before. Qatar was the target of Iranian missile strikes on Monday, local time, as Tehran retaliated against the US bombing three critical nuclear sites. Iran said it was aiming for Al Udeid, the largest US military air base in the Middle East. Al Udeid Air Base hosts the US Central Command headquarters and is home to more than 11,000 US and Coalition service members. It is spread across 24 hectares in the desert, just outside Qatar's capital. The base is close enough for Doha residents to witness the flashes in the sky, as the country's air defences intercepted the wave of ballistic missiles. "I live about 30km (from the base) ... So, it's not that far," Professor Kamrava told ABC Radio National. Iran's National Security Council said it targeted the base "in response to the US aggressive and insolent action against Iran's nuclear sites and facilities". In its statement, the council said 14 missiles were launched, "the same as the number of bombs that the US had used". A US defence official said no one was hurt in the attack. Iran gave advance notice to the US and Qatari authorities hours ahead of the strikes. Qatar, which lies 190km south of Iran, said its "air defences successfully intercepted the missile attack". In a post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump wrote that 13 missiles were intercepted and one missile was "set free" because it was not deemed a threat. US officials said medium-range ballistic missiles were used in the strikes. They were intercepted by US and Qatari Patriot air defence batteries, US Central Command said in a statement. Bases in Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE are protected by the US-developed Patriot missile batteries. The Patriot is a long-range missile defence system. Each Patriot battery consists of a truck-mounted launching system, a ground radar, a control station and a generator. They have eight launchers that can typically hold up to four missile interceptors each. The portable batteries can protect an area of up to 100km, and are commonly used to defend military sites. Dougal Robertson from defence firm Felix Advisory, who is a former intelligence officer for the Royal Australian Air Force, said Patriots were made to take out missiles. The number of missiles launched by Iran would have been "pretty easy" for the system to defend against. "In this instance, it was a really relatively simple task for the Patriot," he told the ABC. "Because of the low number of weapons, even if there had been no notice, the US would've been able to detect them quite quickly." Before Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, Iran was believed to have the largest and most diverse ballistic missile stockpile in the Middle East. Israel said the goal of its strikes on Iran was to dismantle the country's nuclear program and ballistic missile stockpile. Ballistic missiles travel at high speeds, soaring to high altitudes before taking a deep and fast dive. This trajectory — going beyond the atmosphere before plummeting down to Earth — can make the missiles particularly difficult to intercept. Videos circulating online appear to show the remains of a Patriot PAC-3 missile following the defence against the Iranian attack. Mr Robertson said the Patriot PAC-3 was an advanced capability missile with greater guidance accuracy to directly hit ballistic missiles. It uses a "hit to kill intercept", striking the target at high altitudes and destroying it with kinetic energy. "Generally, ballistic missiles are coming in at several times the speed of sound — sometimes up to about mach five — so you don't want to miss," he said. "Being able to hit the target directly, it reduces the probability of missing the target. "Generally, between two and three patriot missiles will be fired to ensure they hit a target." Qatar also has the US Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems. The THAAD was specifically designed for ballistic missile defence. US bases in the region have been on high alert and taking precautions since the conflict between Israel and Iran erupted on June 13. And after the US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites over the weekend, Tehran warned that American assets in the region were "legitimate targets". US officials told Reuters that aircraft not in hardened shelters had been moved from Al Udeid base. And naval vessels had been moved from a port in Bahrain, where the military's 5th fleet is located. Mr Robertson said the US had an integrated system of defence across the region. If Iran attempted further strikes on US bases, it would be put into action. "It involves ships in the Persian Gulf. It involves airborne assets. It involves land-based radar," he said. "So, they know where the threat is coming from, and roughly the direction." ABC/Wires
The Sun
24-06-2025
- The Sun
Trump says ‘total' ceasefire to start within hours agreed between Iran and Israel – and reveals how peace deal will work
UK flight to Doha forced to turn back after Iran's missile strike A flight bound for Doha was diverted back to the UK after Iran launched a missile strike against a US airbase in Qatar. Qatar Airways flight QR28 had reached as far as the western Turkish coastline at around 5.56pm UK time when it dramatically made a U-turn, taking it back to Manchester Airport. Earlier today, Iran launched a salvo of ballistic missiles at Doha, targeting the Al Udaid US airbase which houses around 10,000 US army personal. Qatar Airways then announced at 7.30pm that it had temporarily grounded all flights after the Middle Eastern nation closed its airspace. The airline wrote on X: "As 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 any passengers that have been impacted, and will resume operations when the airspace reopens. "The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority." QR28 is not the only Qatar Airways flight from the UK to be affected, with another flight - QR4 from London Heathrow to Doha - also being diverted back to the capital. The jet made it far over the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Greece, before it turned around heading back to London, according to aircraft tracker FlightRadar24.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Vivo T4 Ultra: Beautiful Outside, Powerful Inside
Fire & Destruction: Iran Ballistic Missile Hits Beersheba For A Second Day In A Row, Causes Panic An Iranian ballistic missile has once again struck the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, triggering explosions and fires near the Gav-Yam Negev tech park. Air raid sirens blared moments before the impact, and video footage shows flames engulfing several vehicles near a residential complex. Though there were no injuries reported, the attack caused significant property damage and widespread panic. The Israeli military confirmed it detected the missile launch from Iran and activated air defense systems. Firefighters are currently working to control multiple blazes in the area. This marks another escalation in Iran's ongoing missile campaign against Israel.#IranMissileStrike #IsraelUnderAttack #MiddleEastTensions #IranVsIsrael #BallisticMissiles #BreakingNews #sorokahospital #MissileAttack #DaylightStrike #IDF #BEERSHEBA 7.7K views | 6 hours ago
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Israeli Military Admits Iron Dome Failed To Stop Iranian Missile In Beersheba; At Least 7 Injured
Southern Israel's Beersheba has become a repeated target in Iran's latest missile campaign. Within 24 hours of a previous strike, Iranian forces launched another ballistic missile that exploded near apartment blocks, creating a massive crater and setting vehicles ablaze. The shockwave shattered windows and tore balconies from buildings, sending debris flying. Residents, most of whom had sheltered in bomb-safe rooms, were evacuated by police, medics, and rescue teams. At least five people were injured by smoke inhalation, blunt force trauma, and shockwaves, while eight others were hurt in a nearby building. The missile was not intercepted, and Israeli officials confirmed significant structural damage in the city. A Microsoft office building was also impacted during the strike. The wave of attacks continues to escalate tensions in the region.#IranMissileStrike #IsraelUnderAttack #MiddleEastTensions #IranVsIsrael #BallisticMissiles #BreakingNews #sorokahospital #MissileAttack #DaylightStrike #IDF #BEERSHEBA Read More
