DOHA: The explosions near Doha came amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region and warnings of a possible Iranian missile attack targeting the US-run Al-Udeid air base.
The situation escalated after intelligence reports identified a “credible threat” to the base, which serves as a key hub for US and coalition air operations in the Middle East. In response, the Qatari government took the unprecedented step of temporarily closing its airspace, grounding incoming and outgoing flights and diverting major international traffic from Hamad International Airport.
The US embassy in Qatar issued an urgent alert advising US citizens to seek shelter “until further notice”. A similar advisory was later issued by the UK Foreign Office for British citizens in the country.
A senior US defence official confirmed to the BBC that both the White House and the Department of Defence were closely monitoring the threat to the air base. The security level at Al-Udeid has been raised to high alert.
The tensions come days after US airstrikes targeted three Iranian nuclear sites. Former President Donald Trump called the strikes a “monumental blow” to Iran’s nuclear capabilities. In response, Iran’s military leadership has vowed a retaliatory response, saying the US will face “commensurate consequences” regardless of the damage.
The base, located about 30 kilometres southwest of Doha, is home to thousands of US troops and hosts key installations of the US Central Command, CENTCOM. British forces are also deployed on a rotational deployment at the site.
There has been no official confirmation yet of the source of the explosions, but regional media and intelligence sources believe they could be related to Iran’s increasing threats against US assets in the Gulf.
President Trump is expected to convene a high-level meeting of the National Security Council later today to discuss the emerging crisis.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the airspace closure was a “precautionary measure” in light of regional developments. The situation remains volatile, and both Qatari and international officials are urging calm while assessing the threat landscape.
