Tensions in the Middle East flared dramatically on Monday evening after Iran launched ballistic missiles at US military installations in Qatar and Iraq, Iranian state media reported.
Naijaonpoint reports that the offensive, described as a “powerful” retaliatory strike, follows recent American attacks on key nuclear sites in Iran.
According to the official IRNA news agency, the operation was codenamed “Blessing of Victory.”
“The operation of Iranian missiles against American bases located in Qatar and in Iraq has begun,” IRNA said.
The report described the attack as a direct response to what Tehran claims were provocative strikes on its nuclear infrastructure by Washington.
AFP journalists stationed in Doha, the Qatari capital, reported hearing multiple explosions, heightening fears of a broader regional conflict. Doha hosts the Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US military installation in the Middle East, and a strategic hub for American operations in the region.
Shortly after the missile attack, Qatari authorities confirmed that they had intercepted the assault on Al Udeid, averting what could have been a catastrophic escalation.
In an official statement issued late Monday, the Qatari Ministry of Defence confirmed that its air defence systems successfully neutralised the threat posed by the Iranian missiles.
The statement read, “The Ministry of Defence announced that Qatari air defences successfully intercepted a missile attack targeting Al Udeid Air Base.”
“The incident did not result in any deaths or injuries,” authorities added, reassuring residents and foreign nationals in the country.