7 days ago
Iran notified Qatar about intentions to strike US air base: Reports
Iran had informed the United States, via two diplomatic channels, of its intention to target the US Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, hours before carrying out the retaliatory attack, Reuters reported on Monday, citing a senior regional source.
Earlier, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it had targeted the Al-Udeid Air Base with a 'powerful and destructive" missile strike as part of an operation it dubbed Annunciation of Victory, in response to the US aggression that struck three peaceful nuclear facilities in Iran.
The source added that Tehran also notified the Qatari government, a detail confirmed by The Wall Street Journal, which cited Arab officials and sources familiar with the events as saying that Doha had received a direct alert from Iran ahead of the strike.
In the same context, the officials told WSJ that the US administration was aware of the Iranian attack in advance. Meanwhile, Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the targeted base had been evacuated well before the missiles landed.
Doha also took additional precautionary steps, including closing its airspace. The US embassy in the Qatari capital issued a warning earlier in the day, urging American citizens to remain in place.
Read more: Tankers divert from Gulf following US-Israeli strikes on Iran
A US military official told Al Mayadeen that the Al-Udeid Air Base, southwest of Doha, was hit by an Iranian missile strike using short- and medium-range ballistic missiles.
The official said that 'so far, there are no reports of casualties among US forces,' and noted that the military command is closely monitoring the situation.
In Washington, a senior White House official told CNN that the Trump administration had anticipated the Iranian response following the US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities over the weekend.
The official claimed that US President Donald Trump 'is not seeking further military engagement in the region.'
Read more: 'Israel' seeking swift end to aggression against Iran: WSJ
