In a dramatic escalation of the Middle East crisis, Iran launched a missile operation early Monday targeting U.S. military bases in Qatar and Iraq, in what it called “Annunciation of Victory”. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the strikes, describing them as a “devastating and powerful” response to recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

The primary target was Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest U.S. military installation in the region and home to over 10,000 American troops. Explosions were heard across Doha, and Qatar’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that at least one missile was intercepted by its air defense systems.

No casualties have been reported, but the Qatari government condemned the attack as a “flagrant violation of sovereignty” and warned it reserves the right to respond.

Simultaneously, Iranian missiles were launched toward Ain al-Asad Air Base in western Iraq, another key U.S. military hub. Iraqi and U.S. military sources reported that air defense systems were activated, and initial assessments suggest the missiles were either intercepted or caused limited damage.

The Iranian offensive follows a weekend of U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites, ordered by President Donald Trump.

The strikes marked the first confirmed use of GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs) in combat, targeting deeply buried nuclear infrastructure. However, satellite imagery and Iranian sources suggest that Tehran may have preemptively evacuated sensitive materials, raising questions about the strategic impact of the U.S. operation.

Iran’s military framed the missile barrage as proportional retaliation, stating that it used the same number of bombs as those dropped by the U.S. over the weekend. The IRGC emphasized that U.S. bases in the region are not a strength but a vulnerability, and warned that any future aggression would be met with greater force.

The White House and Pentagon are on high alert, with President Trump reportedly convening his national security team in the Situation Room. The U.S. Embassy in Qatar has advised American citizens to shelter in place, and the United Arab Emirates has closed its airspace amid fears of further escalation.

This latest exchange comes amid a broader regional conflagration. Since June 13, Israel and Iran have been engaged in direct military confrontation, with Israel targeting Iranian nuclear scientists and military leaders, and Iran responding with hundreds of missiles and drones. The conflict has already claimed over 650 lives in Iran and 24 in Israel, with thousands more wounded.

International reactions have been swift. The United Nations has called for restraint, while Russia and China have condemned the U.S. and Israeli strikes. UN experts have warned that Israel’s attacks on non-military sites in Iran may violate international humanitarian law, particularly the bombing of media headquarters and prisons.

As tensions spiral, analysts warn that the region is teetering on the edge of a broader war. The missile strikes on U.S. bases mark a dangerous new phase, potentially drawing Washington deeper into a conflict that has already engulfed Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and now the Persian Gulf.

IN THIS ARTICLE