Here’s everything we know about Iran’s attack on US military bases based in the Middle Eastern countries of Iraq and Qatar.

Today (Monday 23 June), Iran confirmed that they had successfully launched missile attacks on the two countries as state TV announced the attack on American forces at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, in particular.

They described it as ‘a mighty and successful response by the armed forces of Iran to America’s aggression’.

UK and US citizens in Qatar have been instructed to shelter in place ‘until further notice’, with the Arab nation also closing its airspace today in anticipation of an Iranian retaliation against US military personnel stationed on their soil.

The move comes following a series of missile strikes from the US on three Iranian military bases on Saturday (21 June), following a number of events that escalated tension between the nations, including Iran exchanging missiles with Israel.

Which areas were targeted?

The Al Udeid Air Base, which was one of the targets, is located southwest of the Qatari capital of Doha, and is the largest US base in the Middle East.

Approximately 10,000 US troops are stationed here in a move that signals a quick retaliation from Iran after its primary nuclear testing facility was targeted over the weekend.

Officials reported that air defence systems had worked to prevent any casualties.

As well as this, it was reported by an Iraqi security official via The Associated Press that the Ain el-Asad airbase in Western Iraq was targeted in today’s attacks.

What effects have the attacks had?

Missiles were spotted above Doha, Qatar (Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images)

It was reported earlier today that Qatari airspace had shut amidst growing whispers over an Iranian attack, according to the BBC.

Sources at Sky News report that the US and Gulf states may have been tipped off by Iran, which could point towards a potential resolution being reached.

Several Arab nations, including the likes of Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and Qatar, have shut off their airspace in the mean time.

What has Qatar said about the attacks?
Qatar stated that their ‘air defences thwarted the attack and successfully intercepted the Iranian missiles’, while calling Iran’s attack on Al Udeid a ‘flagrant violation’.

They added that they have the right to respond directly to the attacks.

Qatar’s foreign ministry has stated that it ‘affirms that the security situation in the country remains stable, and there is no cause for concern’.

The ministry added that their priority is the safety of ‘citizens and residents, and to maintain the normalcy of public life’.

What has Donald Trump said about Iran’s attacks?

Trump hasn’t spoken about the attacks yet (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)Trump hasn’t spoken about the attacks yet (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Trump hasn’t spoken about the attacks yet (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Trump was in the White House Situation Room when the news broke, having called the US’ attacks on Iran a ‘spectacular military success’.

He previously stated that the ‘might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before’ if they were to retaliate.

While he hasn’t directly addressed the attacks, The Trump administration said in a statement: “The White House and the department of defence are aware of, and closely monitoring, potential threats.”

Trump has posted on Truth Social since the attacks, choosing to speak about his nation’s attacks on Iran over the weekend while seemingly not mentioning today’s events.

What has Iran said?
Following Operation Midnight Hammer over the weekend, Iranian officials have remained firm in their stance of hitting back if necessarily, despite the damage imposed on their bases.

As Trump called for negotiations, Iran previously said there would be a ‘decisive response’ and that the US ‘must receive a response for their aggression’ after six B-2 Spirit stealth bombers hit their Fardo base on Saturday.

Following Iran’s attacks on Iraq and Qatar, a senior Iranian official said that they will continue retaliating in response to the weekend’s events, according to Reuters.

He added that they have the ‘necessary rationality’ to be diplomatic once they are done ‘punishing the aggressor’, calling for attacks from Israel and the US to stop if they wish to seek negotations.

Featured Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images