Al Udeid Air Base, located near the Qatari capital of Doha, serves as the headquarters for US Central Command's Middle East air operations, and is home to nearly 8.000 US troops.
Recent satellite images show that dozens of aircraft were removed from the runway as a precaution against attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.
The attack itself was not a complete surprise, reports BBC North America editor Sarah Smith.
The US was preparing for something like this after the attack on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.
All American forces in the Middle East were on high alert and ready for a similar attack.
The facility currently serves as a headquarters and logistics base for US operations in Iraq, and includes the longest airstrip in the Gulf region.
British forces also rotate through the base, which is sometimes called Abu Nahla Airfield.
Qatar allowed the United States access to Al Udeid airbase in 2000.
After the Americans took over the base in 2001, Doha and Washington signed an agreement in December 2002 officially recognizing the US military presence there, according to London-based intelligence firm Grey Dynamics.
In 2024, media reported that the US had reached an agreement to extend its military presence in Qatar for another 10 years.
America will feel pressure to respond
President Trump, his defense secretary and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff were safely in the Situation Room as reports came in from Qatar, reports Gary O'Donoghue, chief North America correspondent, from Washington, D.C.
In May, Donald Trump visited this base as part of his visit to the region.
During the speech, he told the staff serving there: "As president, my priority is to end conflicts, not start them. But I will never hesitate to use American force, if necessary, to defend the United States or our partners."
After the strikes over the weekend, the president said that any retaliation by Iran would be met with a "much more forceful response."
Although initial reports indicated that there were no casualties, the president will feel immense pressure to retaliate – and prove that his threats were not empty.
American weapons for Qatar
The US has a close relationship with Qatar, sending it $26 billion worth of military equipment, weapons, and services under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.
This makes Qatar America's second largest FMS partner in the world.
Recent and significant sales under FMS include: the Integrated Air and Missile Defense System, which includes the Patriot long-range missile system, the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, and the AN/FPS-132 Early Warning Radar; the F-15QA fighter jet — the most advanced F-15 in production; and the AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.
Each of these programs includes facility construction and expanded support in ammunition, logistics, and training.
Iran claims attack on US base was successful
Iran's Supreme National Security Council said in a statement that while Iran "destroyed" a US air base in Qatar, the attack in no way "poses a threat to Qatar or its people."
He added that Iran "remains committed to preserving and continuing warm and historic relations" with Qatar.
A statement from Iran's Supreme National Security Council, carried by Iranian state media, said that "the number of missiles used was the same as the number of bombs the US used on three Iranian nuclear facilities."
Qatar claims all Iranian missiles were intercepted
Majed al-Ansari, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wrote on X: "We consider this a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, its airspace, international law and the Charter of the United Nations."
He said Qatari air defense systems "successfully thwarted the attack and intercepted the Iranian missiles," and that the base had been evacuated earlier.
He added: "All necessary steps were taken to ensure the safety of personnel at the base, including members of the Qatari Armed Forces, friendly forces, and others."
"We confirm that there were no injuries or casualties in the attack."
The spokesman said Qatar reserves the right to respond "in a manner that is equivalent to the nature and scale of this brazen aggression."
Additional reporting: Goncheh Habibiazad, BBC News Persian
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