The White House responded on Saturday after Iran launched a calculated missile attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The strike came in retaliation for the recent assault on Iran’s nuclear facilities. According to CNN, U.S. defense authorities confirmed that both short- and medium-range ballistic missiles were used in the attack on June 21.
In anticipation of this retaliation, the U.S. had already relocated military aircraft from Al Udeid. Satellite images captured on June 19 revealed an empty tarmac, underscoring that precautions had been taken amid rising tensions in the Middle East. No U.S. personnel were injured.
Two American defense representatives explained to CNN that the move was a strategic measure to protect military equipment. Meanwhile, U.S. Navy ships departed from their Bahrain base ahead of the assault, and their current positions remain classified.
Qatari authorities announced that their air defense forces successfully neutralized the incoming missiles. Majed al-Ansari, a spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, confirmed that the attack was thwarted and that no casualties were reported.
A senior White House official stated, “We anticipated this retaliation,” referring to a similar situation following the death of Qasem Soleimani in 2020. Iran asserted that its missile attack targeted only military sites, aligning the number of missiles launched with the bombs dropped on its nuclear facilities.
In an early statement on Truth Social, former President Trump criticized media coverage of the U.S. attack on Iran, calling it “Fake News” for downplaying its significance.
Both the White House and the Pentagon have emphasized that they continue to closely monitor the situation and are prepared to respond if needed.
