Qatar has formally reprimanded Iran after a missile attack launched by Tehran struck the US al-Udeid Air Base on its soil, in a move that Doha described as a violation of regional cooperation and diplomatic norms.
The missile barrage, which took place on Monday evening, was part of Iran’s response to recent US strikes on key nuclear sites in Iran, carried out in support of Israeli military objectives.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the Iranian ambassador in Doha had been summoned and informed that the strike ran counter to the principles of neighbourly conduct and contradicted the historically positive ties between the two nations.
The statement noted that Qatar has consistently supported dialogue with Iran and undertaken significant diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions across the region.
Qatar has also raised the alarm with the United Nations, dispatching a letter to the Security Council and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, warning that the incident poses a direct threat to regional stability. Doha called on the Security Council to enforce an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire throughout the Middle East to avoid further escalation.
Although the al-Udeid base, which is home to around 10,000 US military and civilian personnel, was evacuated prior to the attack, the event underscores the precarious security dynamics in the Gulf.
Airspace in Qatar was briefly closed before reopening later that evening. Bahrain and Kuwait, which also house US military installations, similarly suspended and then resumed air travel as a precaution.
The attack marks a significant and dangerous escalation in the ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States, drawing neighbouring states closer into the conflict and prompting urgent calls for de-escalation from regional actors.
