Explosions were heard over Doha on Monday, according to Reuters, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The incident follows Qatar’s decision to temporarily close its airspace earlier in the day as a precaution.
Both the US and UK embassies in Doha have issued advisories urging citizens to shelter in place, citing deteriorating security conditions.
An Axios reporter, quoting an Israeli official, said that six missiles were launched by Iran, aimed at US air bases in the country.
The missile launches come in direct response to recent US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and appear to mark a significant escalation in Iran’s confrontation with both Israel and the United States.
Regional security watchers warn that the situation is rapidly spiraling toward a broader military conflict.
The situation remains tense across the region. A Western diplomat told Reuters there is a credible threat of Iranian retaliation targeting US assets.
According to a Wall Street Journal report citing US officials, Iran is moving missile launchers into position for a potential attack on US forces stationed in the Middle East.
Among the likely targets is the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military installation in the region, which houses approximately 10,000 American troops.
Qatar has temporarily suspended all air traffic within its airspace as a precautionary measure following threats of retaliation from Iran over recent US strikes on its nuclear facilities, the country’s foreign ministry said on Monday.
“The competent authorities announce the temporary suspension of air traffic in the country’s airspace, as part of a set of precautionary measures taken based on developments in the region,” the ministry said in a statement.
The move underscores growing regional volatility following the US bunker-buster strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend.
Qatar, which hosts the largest US military base in the region, appears to be bracing for potential fallout from any retaliatory actions.
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