On February 28, according to Al Jazeera news agency, Qatari air defense units were immediately activated when detecting aircraft intruding into the airspace. Many large explosions were recorded in the sky over Doha when the defense system successfully destroyed at least 3 cruise missiles.
This is the first time Qatar has directly become a target in the current escalating conflict, after Iranian officials warned they would target all Middle Eastern countries with US military bases.
The incident occurred just hours after Tehran announced a map of US military facilities in the region, which emphasized the strategic location of Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar - where the front headquarters of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) is located. Iran's launch of missiles aimed at the neighboring country marks a worrying expansion of the war, going beyond the scope of direct confrontation with Israel and the United States.
At the scene, missile debris was reported to have fallen in the suburbs of Doha, and there is currently no information about civilian casualties. The Qatari government immediately raised the security alert level to the highest and temporarily suspended all civilian flights at Hamad International Airport.
Meanwhile, US military sources at Al-Udeid base confirmed that this force is closely coordinating with Qatar to strengthen the defense fire before the risk of further attacks.
The attack targeting a Gulf nation with neutral diplomatic relations like Qatar is causing a strong shock to international public opinion. Analysts believe that this is a message to realize Tehran's threat to force countries in the region to stop allowing the US to use bases and airspace to attack Iran.
Currently, Iran has not yet made an official comment, while neighboring countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are closely monitoring developments to prepare for similar response plans.
