Iran is retaliating against the US for the latter’s recent precision airstrikes on three of the former’s most important nuclear development facilities.
Locals and Israeli intelligence reported that Iran fired at least six intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) towards the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which houses American as well as other allied forces.
Video captured by onlookers shows defense missiles, possibly the US’s PATRIOT defense systems, intercepting the Iranian ICBMs.
The US’s Qatari Embassy had recently warned all Americans to shelter in place in anticipation of potential Iranian retaliatory attacks.
No casualties were reported, but three ICBMs seem to have struck the air base.
Intelligence reports reveal that the US had evacuated its military assets from the Udeid Base out of an abundance of caution.
Spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Majid bin Mohammed Al-Ansari, condemned Iran’s attacks, assured the public that Iran’s ICBMs were intercepted, and alluded to a potential military response.
“We reassure,” said Dr. Al-Ansari, “that Qatar’s air defenses successfully thwarted the attack and intercepted the Iranian missiles.”
“We affirm that Qatar reserves the right to respond directly in a manner equivalent with the nature and scale of this brazen aggression, in line with international law,” added Dr. Al-Ansari.
The US had hoped that its strikes on Iran would induce it to accept the former’s terms for a negotiated settlement regarding Iran’s nuclear development goals.
While Iran claims its nuclear programs were designed for civilian purposes, the US and allies counter-argued that credible evidence demonstrates the programs had a bellicose intent.
Iran Watch, an organization devoted to exposing Iran’s weapons development programs, recently reported Iran was dangerously close to obtaining nuclear weapons.
Iran Watch claimed Iran has “accomplished over 90% of the work needed to bring natural uranium to weapon-grade.”
Similarly, Israel claimed Iran “is nearing a point of no return” in its quest to obtain nuclear weapons.
Iranian leaders have previously shamelessly voiced their intentions of “destroying” and bringing “death” to Israel, the US, and their allies.
