Iran says it ‘smashed’ Al Udeid to retaliate for ‘brazen’ US attack

The Iranian government confirmed the airstrikes on the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Monday, saying it “smashed” U.S. forces to retaliate against the U.S. strikes on its nuclear sites.

“The Secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council announced that in response to the aggressive and brazen action of the United States against Iran’s nuclear sites and facilities… hours ago, the powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran smashed the US forces’ airbase in Al Udeid, Qatar,” the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran  said in a statement posted to X on Monday afternoon.

The statement comes after U.S. and Qatari officials earlier confirmed the attack.

The Department of Defense said the attacks were from short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles and did not report any casualties from them.

“I can confirm that al Udeid Air Base was attacked by short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles originating from Iran today. At this time, there are no reports of U.S. casualties. We are monitoring this situation closely and will provide more information as it becomes available,” a Defense official said in a statement.

A spokesperson for the Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Qatari air defenses “thwarted the attack and successfully intercepted the Iranian missiles.”

The spokesperson also condemned the strikes, saying Qatar “reserves the right to respond directly in a manner proportional to the nature and scale of this blatant aggression and in accordance with international law” and that Qatar considers the strikes “a flagrant violation of the State of Qatar’s sovereignty and airspace, as well as of international law and the United Nations Charter.”

Iranian state TV reported on Monday that Iran had begun operations against the U.S. base outside Doha. A source familiar with the matter also told The Hill that Iran launched 10 missiles at the base.