The Qatari Foreign Ministry has summoned the Iranian ambassador in Doha following Monday night’s missile strike by Iran on the U.S. military’s al-Udeid air base in Qatar, condemning the attack as a dangerous escalation that violates principles of good neighborliness and regional cooperation.
The retaliatory strike by Iran, targeting one of America’s most critical military installations in the Gulf, came just days after the United States bombed three nuclear sites in Iran in support of its ally, Israel. While the al-Udeid base had been evacuated prior to the missile attack and no casualties were reported, the move has sent shockwaves across Gulf capitals.
In its official statement, Qatar told the Iranian envoy that the attack was “inconsistent with the principle of good neighbourliness and the close relations between Qatar and Iran.” Doha emphasized that it has consistently advocated for dialogue with Tehran and has actively worked to de-escalate tensions through diplomacy.
Earlier, Qatar submitted a formal letter to the United Nations Security Council, alerting its members and UN Secretary-General António Guterres to what it described as “an extremely dangerous escalation” that poses a direct threat to regional and international peace.
Qatar also urged the Security Council to “fulfill its responsibilities” by taking urgent steps to implement an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire across the Middle East, warning that the region is on the brink of sliding into uncontrolled conflict.
The al-Udeid base, which typically hosts around 10,000 U.S. military and civilian personnel, is the largest American air base in the region and serves as a key hub for operations across the Middle East.
In response to the escalating tensions, Qatar temporarily closed its airspace before reopening it after the attack. Bahrain and Kuwait, which also host U.S. military installations, implemented similar short-term airspace closures as a precautionary measure before reopening theirs shortly afterward.
As hostilities between the U.S., Israel, and Iran continue to unfold, Gulf nations are now caught in the crosshairs of a rapidly intensifying regional conflict, with Qatar warning that further provocations could undermine years of diplomatic efforts and plunge the Middle East into greater instability.
