What we find out about Iran’s assault on US base in Qatar

[ad_1] Video exhibits air defences over Qatar as Iran assaults US base

Sean Seddon & Gabriela Pomeroy BBC Information

Iran launched missiles at a US navy base in Qatar on Monday, in what it stated was retaliation for American strikes in opposition to its nuclear websites over the weekend.

Witnesses reported listening to loud bangs within the sky above the capital, Doha, whereas movies confirmed vibrant flashes within the sky as air defence methods tried to intercept missiles.

Donald Trump described the assault as "very weak" and "anticipated", and instructed peace within the area may proceed.

On Tuesday, the US president introduced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran had come into impact.

Here's what we all know.

What did Iran goal and why?

Iranian missiles focused the biggest US navy base within the Center East, Al-Udeid, in what it stated was a response to the US bombing three of its nuclear programme services on Saturday night.

Al-Udeid is residence to the US navy's headquarters for all air operations within the area. Some British navy personnel additionally serve there on rotation.

The assault was first confirmed by Iranian state media, and later by the navy.

A press release from the IRGC, essentially the most highly effective department of the Iranian navy, stated that "Iran won't go away any assault on its sovereignty unanswered", and added: "US bases within the area should not strengths however vulnerabilities."

The US had beforehand warned Iran not to reply to its strikes on nuclear services and urged leaders in Tehran to conform to a diplomatic finish to hostilities within the area.

There have been differing stories about what number of missiles had been fired. Iran stated six, the US stated 14, and Qatar was reported by Reuters as saying 19 - all of which, it added, had been intercepted.

Nobody has been reported killed or injured.

Within the hours earlier than the assault, each the US and UK had suggested their residents in Qatar to "shelter in place". About 8,000 US residents reside in Qatar, in keeping with the State Division, in addition to a number of thousand British residents.

What was stated after the assault

It turned obvious quickly afterwards that Iran had given warning that it was getting ready to launch missiles. Three Iranian officers quoted by the New York Occasions stated that Tehran had advised Doha of its intentions, as a method to minimise casualties.

In his first feedback within the aftermath, President Donald Trump thanked Iran "for giving us early discover, which made it potential for no lives to be misplaced, and no person to be injured".

He branded the assault "very weak" - no People had been harmed and little or no injury was carried out, he stated. "They've gotten all of it out of their system," he added and stated there was now an opportunity for "peace".

However, a spokesman for Qatar's overseas ministry stated the assault was a "shock" and a "flagrant violation of its sovereignty", and added that Qatar "was one of many first international locations to warn in opposition to the risks of Israeli escalation within the area".

Iran's supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the meantime stated that Iran didn't hurt anybody within the assault however that his nation wouldn't "undergo anybody's violation".

"We've not violated anybody, and we'll by no means settle for being violated by anybody. We won't undergo anybody's violation; that is the logic of the Iranian nation," he stated on X (as translated by BBC Persian).

On Tuesday, Israel publicly agreed to Trump's ceasefire proposal whereas Iran stated it might solely cease its assaults if Israel did the identical.

Iranian state media introduced the nation had fired "a final spherical of missiles" in the direction of Israel earlier than the ceasefire started.

In the meantime, the Israeli authorities issued a warning to Iran: "Israel will reply forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/45c7/live/e350afc0-505a-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/45c7/live/e350afc0-505a-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/45c7/live/e350afc0-505a-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/45c7/live/e350afc0-505a-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/45c7/live/e350afc0-505a-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/45c7/live/e350afc0-505a-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/45c7/live/e350afc0-505a-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/45c7/live/e350afc0-505a-11f0-86d5-3b52b53af158.png.webp" loading="eager" alt="A map of Qatar and surrounding countries, including Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The map highlights the location of Doha on the east coast and Al Udeid Air Base, locally more centrally in Qatar. An inset map shows the broader region with Iran labelled." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> What had been the indicators that the assault was imminent?

There have been indications on Monday that the US suspected Iran was getting ready to launch missiles into Qatar.

Hours earlier than the assault, Qatar stated it was quickly closing its airspace, shortly after the US and UK advised residents in Qatar to "shelter in place".

These warnings didn't give a transparent indication an assault was imminent: the US stated it issued the order "out of an abundance of warning", whereas the UK stated it was following the lead of the People.

Nevertheless, round an hour earlier than the assault, the BBC discovered of "a reputable menace" to the bottom.

Individually, some US media retailers quoted nameless US officers as saying Iranian missile launchers had been positioned for a possible launch in the direction of Qatar.

Flight monitoring web sites confirmed planes had already began diverting to different airports earlier than the launch. In accordance with Flightradar24, there have been 100 flights sure for Doha shortly earlier than missile launches had been detected.

Hamad Worldwide Airport is without doubt one of the world's prime 10 busiest for worldwide site visitors, with round 140,000 passengers passing via per day.

Different international locations within the area, together with Bahrain and Kuwait, additionally closed their airspace for a quick interval.

How did we get right here?

The US launched huge strikes in opposition to three nuclear services inside Iran on Saturday.

That got here after days of uncertainty over whether or not the US would be part of Israel's navy motion in opposition to Iran, which began on 13 June.

Israel has been launching day by day missile strikes in opposition to nuclear and navy services inside Iran, which its authorities says are crucial to forestall Iran from imminently constructing a nuclear weapon.

Successive Israeli and American governments have sought to forestall Iran from buying a nuclear weapon. Iran has all the time maintained its intensive nuclear programme is for civilian functions.