For the best experience, open
https://m.thewire.in
on your mobile browser.
Advertisement

Iran Launches Missiles on US Military Base in Qatar; Indian Embassy Issues Caution

Airspace closures rippled across the Gulf, from Iraq and the UAE to Bahrain and Kuwait, prompting Indian airlines to announce delays, cancellations and flight diversions.
article_Author
The Wire Staff
Jun 23 2025
  • whatsapp
  • fb
  • twitter
Airspace closures rippled across the Gulf, from Iraq and the UAE to Bahrain and Kuwait, prompting Indian airlines to announce delays, cancellations and flight diversions.
iran launches missiles on us military base in qatar  indian embassy issues caution
Screengrabs from videos shared on X showing flares over Doha's skies as Iran strikes US bases in Qatar.
Advertisement

New Delhi: Explosions were heard in Doha, Qatar’s capital, after Iran launched a barrage of missiles on United States military’s base in Qatar on Monday night. This comes just an hour after Qatar announced the temporary closure of its airspace owing to fear that Iran might retaliate against the United States following the strikes on its nuclear sites. 

Just before the explosions were flares reported on the skies above Qatar, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on X, “We neither initiated the war nor seeking it. But we will not leave invasion to the great Iran without answer.”

In a statement issued by the Secretariat of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Tehran claimed its armed forces had “crushed the US Air Force Base in Qatar.” The council, however, added that the attack was not aimed at Qatar, describing the Gulf nation as a “friendly country and brother.”

The Iranian armed forces said, as quoted by state media, that it came in response to the “blatant military aggression by the criminal regime of the United States” against the nuclear facilities of the Islamic Republic.

Witnesses in Doha said that the explosions were heard to go on for around 15 minutes.

According to the Associated Press, a US Defence Department official confirmed that the attack involved short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles, but reported no casualties.

Qatar, in a sharply worded response, condemned the Iranian assault. “We consider this a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, its airspace, international law, and the United Nations Charter. 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,” Qatar’s foreign affairs ministry spokesperson stated.

The Qatari defence ministry stated that its air defences had “successfully intercepted a missile attack targeting Al-Udeid Air Base,” which hosts the forward headquarters of US Central Command and houses around 10,000 American military and civilian personnel. It is the US’s largest military site in the region.

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Qatar has issued an advisory urging Indian nationals to stay indoors amid the escalating tensions. “In view of the ongoing situation, the Indian community in Qatar is urged to be cautious and remain indoors. Please stay calm and follow local news, as well as the instructions and guidance issued by Qatari authorities. The Embassy will continue to provide updates through our social media channels,” the advisory stated.

With a population of around 830,000, Indians make up the largest expatriate group in Qatar, accounting for nearly a quarter of the country’s total population. Many Indian nationals are also employed at the US air base.

Iran’s response to the US missile strikes on its three nuclear sites echoed its actions following the 2020 assassination of senior military commander Qasem Soleimani, when it launched missile attacks on a US military base in Iraq.

Qatar’s decision to close its airspace in advance suggests that Iran may have provided prior warning – an indication that Tehran could be signalling a willingness to de-escalate from this point. Similarly, Supreme National Security Council’s assertion that it used the same number of missiles and bombs as the US on June 13 to target Iranian nuclear sites further signalled a readiness to off-ramp.

As news of the missile strike spread, airspace closures rippled across the Gulf, from Iraq and the UAE to Bahrain and Kuwait, prompting Indian carriers to announce delays, cancellations and flight diversions. The disruption is expected to have a domino effect globally, as Gulf airlines and airports serve as major hubs for a significant portion of the international aviation industry.

Air India spokesperson announced that it had “ceased all operations to the region as well as to and from the East Coast of North America and Europe with immediate effect, until further notice”. He also stated that India-bound flights from North America were diverting back to their respective origins and others are being diverted back to India or re-routed away from the closed airspaces.

Air India Express reported that it had diverted a Doha-bound flight that took from Kochi to Muscat, while another flight was turned back to Kannur.

One of the chartered flights carrying evacuated Indians nationals from Mashhad airport in Iran was also reported to be delayed.

In the first international reaction, Saudi Arabia condemned the Iranian attack “in the strongest terms possible”, adding that it was “an entirely unacceptable act that cannot be justified under any circumstances”.

The French president Emmanuel Macron called for the “spiral of chaos” to end

Expressing solidarity with Qatar, Macron said on a pot on X that he was in contact with Qatari authorities and other partners in the region.

"I call on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint, to de-escalate and to return to the negotiating table," he said.

Earlier this evening, in a statement on X, Qatar’s foreign ministry said that as part of Qatar’s commitment to the “safety of its citizens, residents and visitors”, it is announcing a temporary suspension of air navigation in the country’s airspace. 

Two hours and forty minutes later, the Qatari ministry of interior posted that “the security situation in the country is stable, and there is no cause for concern”.

“This decision comes as part of a series of precautionary measures taken based on the developments in the region,” it said.

The decision to close Qatari airspace in the evening had come hours after the US urged its citizens in Qatar to “shelter in place until further notice”.

The ministry stated that the official bodies were closely monitoring the situation continuously and are assessing developments in coordination with regional and international partners, and that the public will be updated with latest information through official channels.

The ministry also highlighted that the government “will not hesitate to take necessary preventive and protective measures within this framework” for the safety of individuals on Qatari soil.

Over the weekend, the US joined Israel’s bombing campaign against Iran and struck fears of an Iranian reprisal.

Earlier today, the US Embassy in Qatar posted a notice, saying, “Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend American citizens shelter in place until further notice.”

Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari has stressed that the security guidelines do not necessarily indicate a real threat.

Earlier, Reuters also reported that the British government had issued a similar warning to its own citizens in Qatar.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.

Advertisement
tlbr_img1 Video tlbr_img2 Editor's pick tlbr_img3 Trending