Israel-Iran War: Iran attacks US military bases in Iraq and Qatar; tensions erupt in Gulf
When Deterrence Fails: The night sky over Doha lit up with fire and steel on June 23 2025, shaking the foundations of one of the Middle East’s most strategically critical alliances. In a dramatic escalation, Iran launched a barrage of missiles targeting the US-operated Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. This move sends unmistakable ripples through regional and global geopolitics.
The air base, home to nearly 10,000 American troops and a rotating contingent of British forces, functions as the nerve center for US Central Command operations across the region. The attack followed closely on the heels of US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. This tit-for-tat dynamic has now spiraled into open confrontation, testing the limits of diplomacy, sovereignty, and military restraint.
Qatar responded swiftly by suspending all air traffic in its skies, citing “regional developments.” But for many residents, it came too late. Families in central Doha and Lusail reported loud explosions with no prior warning from local authorities. A stark reminder of the unpredictability of modern warfare and its toll on civilians. One resident described how his children were “totally taken by surprise,” underscoring the anxiety rippling through communities that suddenly find themselves in the shadow of conflict.
Iran’s move, dubbed Operation Glad Tidings of Victory, is being framed as a direct and symbolic response to the US and Israel attack against its Nuclear facilities. The number of missiles reportedly matching the number of bombs dropped on Iran’s nuclear facilities. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps called the strike “powerful and destructive,” stating that any aggression against Iran’s sovereignty “will never be left unanswered.”
The US and UK embassies in Qatar, along with US outposts in Bahrain and Iraq, swiftly entered “duck and cover” protocols, bracing for what some fear may become a prolonged conflict. As missiles streaked across the skies, officials from Washington to London scrambled to issue “shelter in place” directives — a clear sign that the situation is being treated as more than just a flare-up.
Meanwhile, Qatar condemned the attack in unambiguous terms. Its foreign ministry labeled the missile strike as “a flagrant violation” of its sovereignty and reserved the right to respond proportionately and in accordance with international law. Interestingly, Qatari defenses reportedly intercepted the incoming missiles, preventing further physical damage — but the psychological impact may prove harder to contain.
This development raises a chilling question: Has the region crossed a threshold from cold tensions to open conflict? The Gulf has always been a stage of quiet maneuverings and proxy posturing, but as the world watches smoke rise from Al Udeid, the illusion of distance between diplomacy and devastation has vanished.
What comes next — retaliation, restraint, or reconciliation — will shape not just the regional balance of power, but the global order for years to come.
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
