[This news, published on June 24, was updated on June 30]

On the evening of June 23, 2025, Iran launched a missile attack on the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in direct retaliation for U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities the day before.

The barrage, officially codenamed Operation Glad Tidings of Victory, marked a significant escalation in the ongoing Iran-Israel war and was Iran’s second direct strike on a U.S. military installation following its 2020 response to the killing of General Qasem Soleimani.

The attack came just days after Iran had carried out a drone strike on the U.S. consulate in Erbil, Iraq, on June 16. In keeping with its previous patterns, Iran issued advance warnings to both Qatar and the United States before the missiles were launched. According to Iranian officials, the strike was carefully calibrated: one missile for each U.S. bomb dropped on Iran’s nuclear facilities during Operation Midnight Hammer on June 22.

The missile barrage, composed of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, hit Al Udeid at approximately 7:39 p.m. local time. Social media lit up with videos showing missiles streaking across the sky above Doha.

The U.S. Defense Department reported that thirteen of the missiles were intercepted by air defenses, with one crashing harmlessly off-target. Qatar’s Defense Ministry echoed the claim, saying all missiles had been neutralized and that no casualties occurred. Iranian state media, however, described the strike as “devastating” and claimed six missiles successfully hit the base.

Satellite images from just before the attack showed that the Al Udeid base had been largely evacuated, with U.S. warplanes having already been moved. The swift evacuation and missile interceptions appear to have minimized potential damage. Despite the advance notice, the attack sent shockwaves through the region. Qatar, in a sharp rebuke, condemned the assault as a blatant violation of its sovereignty and summoned the Iranian ambassador. It also warned that it reserves the right to respond proportionally.

The aftermath saw further attacks across Iraq. Drone strikes were reported at Taji military base, Imam Ali base, the Victory Base Complex near Baghdad International Airport and the Balad airbase. While casualties were not reported, the Iraqi government confirmed significant damage to radar systems and strongly denounced the Iranian actions as a “cowardly and treacherous assault.”

Iran defended its missile launch as an act of self-defense in the face of U.S. “military aggression” against what it insists is a peaceful nuclear program. Iranian officials reiterated their commitment to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, despite previous threats to withdraw. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei emphasized that Iran did not wish to harm anyone and warned against further provocation. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a chilling warning, stating that continued U.S. military presence in the region would face collapse if further aggression occurred.

U.S. President Donald Trump downplayed the Iranian attack, calling it “a very weak response” and expressed gratitude for the early warning. He urged Iran to seize the opportunity for de-escalation and added that he would encourage Israel to do the same. Just hours later, Trump announced that Iran and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire, with Iran ceasing hostilities at midnight on June 24 and Israel to follow 12 hours later. The ceasefire proposal, according to a senior Iranian official, was mediated by Qatar and presented by the U.S.

The international community reacted swiftly and broadly condemned Iran’s missile strike on Qatar. Regional powers including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait voiced strong support for Qatar, calling the attack a violation of sovereignty and international law. Western nations such as France and Canada urged restraint, while Egypt, Jordan and Morocco expressed solidarity with Qatar. Oman, while also condemning the attack, placed partial blame on Israel for initiating hostilities with its June 13 assault on Iranian nuclear facilities.

As tensions showed signs of subsiding following the ceasefire announcement, diplomatic efforts intensified to prevent further escalation. Nevertheless, the events of June 23 and the rapid sequence of attacks across the region, underscore the fragility of peace in the Gulf and the potential for localized conflicts to spiral into broader confrontations. The region remains on high alert as world powers work to stabilize the situation and guide both Iran and Israel back to diplomacy.