Iran coordinated with Qatari officials before launching missile strikes on the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, providing advance warning to reduce the risk of casualties, The New York Times reported, citing Iranian sources familiar with the operation.
According to the report, Tehran notified Qatar of the impending attacks as part of a calculated move aimed at delivering “symbolic” retaliation against the United States while allowing room for diplomatic de-escalation. Three Iranian officials described the strategy as deliberately restrained, designed to signal resolve without provoking uncontrollable escalation.
The approach mirrored Iran’s 2020 retaliation for the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani, when Tehran warned Iraq in advance of ballistic missile strikes on a U.S. base to avoid American fatalities.
The recent attack was carried out under the name Operation Bashayer Al-Fath (Annunciation of Victory), during which Iranian forces claimed to have launched “destructive and powerful missile attacks” on the Al Udeid base. However, Qatari air defenses intercepted the missiles, and no casualties were reported. Qatar officially condemned the strikes.
A senior White House official confirmed that the U.S. was aware of potential threats to Al Udeid and had been closely monitoring the situation. In response to the developments, the U.S. Embassy in Qatar issued a security advisory urging American nationals to “shelter in place.”
The strikes were Iran’s response to U.S. attacks over the weekend on key Iranian nuclear facilities, ordered by President Donald Trump. Iran’s military leadership warned that the U.S. actions would not go unanswered.
On Monday, Iran’s Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, declared that the recent U.S. assaults on nuclear infrastructure had crossed a red line.
