Attack on US base no threat to Qatar, says Iran
THIS handout satellite photo obtained from Planet Labs PBC shows the Isfahan nuclear enrichment facility in central Iran after US strikes. The US launched unprecedented strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities including Fordo and sites at Isfahan and Natanz at the weekend.
Image: Planet Labs PBC / AFP
IRAN'S National Security Council says a major attack on US military base in Qatar does not "pose any threat" to its Gulf neighbour.
"In response to the US aggressive and insolent action against Iran's nuclear sites and facilities, a few hours ago, the powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran struck the US air base in Al-Udeid, Qatar," the council said in a statement, adding that the number of missiles used "was the same as the number of bombs that the US had used in attacking Iran's nuclear facilities".
"This action does not pose any threat to our friendly and brotherly country, Qatar," it added.
Explosions could be heard over Doha, shortly after Qatar, which hosts the biggest US base in the Middle East, suspended air traffic as Iran threatened retaliation for US strikes on its nuclear sites.
AFP journalists heard several rounds of blasts in central Doha and across the Qatari capital, with projectiles stopped by interceptors illuminating the night sky.
Gas-rich Qatar, which lies 190 kilometres (120 miles) south of Iran across the Gulf, is home to the United States' largest military base in the region, Al Udeid, which hosts the regional headquarters of the Pentagon's Central Command.
"The competent authorities announce the temporary suspension of air traffic in the country's airspace, as part of a set of precautionary measures taken based on developments in the region," the foreign ministry said.
It added authorities were monitoring the situation "in coordination with regional and international partners".
Earlier, the US embassy in Qatar advised Americans there not to go out, with other Western embassies echoing the warning.
"Out of an abundance of caution we recommend American citizens shelter in place until further notice," the US embassy said on its website.
Britain and Canada later cited the US security alert in their own recommendations to nationals.
Iran's armed forces threatened to inflict "serious, unpredictable consequences" on the US after it joined its ally Israel's campaign against the Islamic republic, carrying out heavy strikes on three nuclear sites.
Last week, dozens of US military aircraft were no longer on the tarmac at al-Udeid, according to satellite images published by Planet Labs PBC and analysed by AFP.
Nearly 40 military aircraft -- including transport planes like the Hercules C-130 and reconnaissance aircraft -- were parked on the tarmac at the base, the regional headquarters of the Pentagon's Central Command, on June 5, but in an image taken on June 19, only three aircraft were visible.
After Israel's first strikes on Iran on June 13, the US embassy in Qatar had told its staff and other Americans to exercise caution and "limit non-essential travel to Al Udeid Air Base".