Politics
NEW: Iranian Missile Attack Against U.S. Fails
Qatari officials confirmed on Monday that six or more Iranian missiles fired at a key U.S. military base failed to hit their target.
Dramatic video from the counterattack shows anti-missile intercepters engaging with ballistic missiles headed toward al-Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military outpost in the Middle East which serves a maximum of 10,000 personnel throughout most of the year.
“We reassure that Qatar’s air defenses successfully thwarted the attack and intercepted the Iranian missiles,” Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote on X shortly after news of the Iranian missile launch.
“We affirm that Qatar reserves the right to respond directly in a manner equivalent with the nature and scale of this brazen aggression, in line with international law,” added Dr. Majed Al Ansari, a spokesman for the Ministry.
Officials with Iran say that the number of missiles fired was equal to the number of bombs dropped by the U.S. on Sunday, though that figure remains unverified. The source added that al-Udeid was targeted because it is outside of major populated areas, underscoring Iran’s interest in de-escalating the growing conflict.
A spokesperson for the U.S. military told Fox News that most of the outpost’s personnel had been moved offsite in the 24 hours since U.S. bombs first landed on three key sites in Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. Critical aircrafts had also been transferred to other bases, limiting Iran’s ability to damage U.S. aircrafts that may assist Israel in patrolling Iranian skies.
“We call for the immediate cessation of all military actions and for a serious return to the negotiating table and dialogue,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs added in its statement.
WATCH:
Iran vowed to retaliate after the U.S. dropped 14 “bunker buster” bombs on three sites including Fordow, the underground facility built into a mountainside and sitting beneath an estimated 80 meters of concrete.
“The criminal US must know that in addition to punishing its illegitimate and aggressive offspring, the hands of Islam’s fighters within the armed forces have been freed to take any action against its interests and military, and we will never back down in this regard,” Abdolrahim Mousavi, the new chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, warned in a statement.
On Monday, President Trump touted satellite imagery showing that the Fordow facility was sitting exposed after being hit with multiple 30,000-pound bombs. He declared the site “obliterated” and called on Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei to negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict.
“The white structure shown is deeply imbedded into the rock, with even its roof well below ground level, and completely shielded from flame. The biggest damage took place far below ground level,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Bullseye!!!”
