Iran has made its first retaliatory response to the US airstrikes—it fired a barrage of missiles at an American military base in Qatar on Monday, reports the Wall Street Journal. However, Qatar said it had successfully intercepted the missiles, or at least the first round of them. Sources tell the New York Times that Iran warned Qatari officials about the strikes in advance to minimize civilian casualties—and the attack came shortly after Qatar shut down its airspace.
Iran confirmed the attack on the Al Udeid Air Base after explosions were heard there. An announcement on Iran state TV boasted of "a mighty and successful response by the armed forces of Iran to America's aggression," per the AP. The base, headquarters of US Central Command, is the biggest American military installation in the Mideast. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties there.
Qatar condemned the attack, calling it a "flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, its airspace, international law, and the United Nations Charter." The statement added: "We reassure that Qatar's air defenses successfully thwarted the attack and intercepted the Iranian missiles." Al Jazeera reports that Iran's national security council said the attack took place away from residential areas. "This action does not pose any threat to the friendly and brotherly country, Qatar, and its noble people," the council said, adding that Iran "remains committed to maintaining and continuing warm and historic relations with Qatar." (More Iran stories.)
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