The United States and Israel launched a strike on Saturday targeting Iran’s military and naval forces after talks between Washington and Tehran stalled over Iran’s nuclear program. The strike, carried out in a joint operation, prompted Tehran to retaliate, which has now led to a crisis in the Middle East, with several countries reporting explosions as Iran attacks US bases.
Earlier on Saturday (local time), news portal SkyNews shared footage showing a missile falling freely from the sky and hitting a residential area in the Qatari capital, Doha, amid renewed military confrontation in the Persian Gulf region. A video reportedly captured by residents shows what appears to be the result of an intercepted missile after Tehran said it launched strikes on US bases in the Middle East region.
Explosions, air sirens took over Doha
During Al Jazeera’s live broadcast, national emergency alarms rang out across the Qatari capital. Earlier in the day, explosions and air raid sirens were heard in the capital after Qatar’s defense ministry said it had “successfully countered a number of attacks targeting the country’s territory”.
According to an AFP report, a Qatari official said a US-made Patriot missile system had successfully intercepted an Iranian missile. The country’s defense ministry added on social media that a second wave of missiles aimed at it had also been “intercepted and neutralized”.
Qatar’s defense ministry said: “All incoming missiles were intercepted and destroyed before reaching Qatari territory,” adding that the country’s armed forces have “full capabilities and resources” to ensure its security.
Explosions rock the Middle East
Cities such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Manama all reported explosions during the day, adding that they had intercepted an Iranian missile in the region. In Dubai, which is also the business hub of the Middle East, explosions and a fire were reported at the artificial island of Palm Jumeirah, while the world’s tallest tower, the Burj Khalifa, was evacuated after explosions were heard near it.
Read also | ‘Explosions, smoke, evacuation’: How Dubai became the center of Iran’s target
Loud explosions were also reported in the Saudi capital Riyadh shortly after Iranian missiles targeted US bases in Bahrain and Qatar.
Largest US base in Qatar
Al-Udeid Air Base, located near Doha, Qatar, is one of the largest US military bases in the Middle East and serves as a forward headquarters for US Central Command (CENTCOM), which hosts approximately 10,000 US troops for strategic operations in the region. In June 2025, Iran launched a retaliatory missile attack on the base following US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Qatari air defense systems intercepted most of the missiles, and although no casualties were reported, explosions were heard over Doha as a result of the attack.
Read also | Full list of locations in the Middle East where explosions were heard
Iran promises no leniency
According to a report in The Guardian, a spokesman for Iran’s armed forces said: “We will teach (Israel and the US) a lesson they have never experienced in their history. Any base in the entire region that helps Israel will be targeted by the Islamic Republic’s sacred system and we will show no leniency.”
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The development came after Iran’s military said it had dispatched drones and fired short-range missiles at Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar; Ali Al-Salem Base, Kuwait; Al-Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates; Prince Sultan Air Base, Riyadh; the US base in Erbil in northern Iraq; Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Jordan; and the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain.
