“Victory message”: Is the war over?

Iran responded to the heavy US strikes on its nuclear facilities with a retaliatory blow in Qatar. On June 23, the Iranian military targeted the US Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar in response to the attacks on the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites. According to Al Jazeera, loud explosions were heard in Doha and other parts of the country. In an official statement, the IRGC announced that Iran would not leave any attack on its territorial integrity, sovereignty, or national security unanswered. The statement added that US bases and mobile military units in the region are key vulnerabilities, not strengths. Tehran also emphasized that some missiles fell close to residential areas in Qatar but insisted this was not intended as a threat to the “friendly and brotherly people of Qatar” and that Iran remains committed to maintaining warm, historic ties with Doha.

How did the attack unfold?

According to the US Department of Defense, the Al-Udeid base was attacked with short- and medium-range ballistic missiles. The Qatari Defense Ministry confirmed that its air defenses intercepted several Iranian missiles targeting the base. The attack began at 19:30, with seven missiles launched from Iran toward Al-Udeid. Qatar also confirmed that US forces had evacuated the base days earlier, minimizing risk. At a press briefing, Qatar’s Interior Ministry stated that a total of 19 missiles were fired from Iran, but only one struck near the Al-Udeid Air Base, causing no casualties. The Qatari Defense Ministry also confirmed that no one was killed or injured. The US administration revealed that all critical military equipment had been removed from the base a week prior, similar to how Iran evacuated uranium and other sensitive materials before the US strikes on its nuclear facilities.

Middle East on high alert after Iran’s response

Following Iran’s missile attack on the US base in Qatar, neighboring countries, including Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, the UAE, and Qatar itself, closed their airspace. Many of these countries host significant US military installations. Despite Iran’s insistence that the strikes did not target the Qatari population and that friendly ties remain intact, the incident raised tensions across the Gulf. Qatar’s authorities described the missile strike as a violation of their sovereignty and international law, affirming their right to respond under the UN Charter. At the White House, the response to Iran’s retaliatory attack was restrained. According to CNN, President Donald Trump had anticipated some form of Iranian response after ordering strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. US officials compared Tehran’s measured retaliation to its reaction in 2020 after the killing of General Qasem Soleimani. A White House official told CNN that Washington is not seeking further military escalation in the region at this time.

Did Iran warn the United States before attacking?

This question arose after Trump posted on his own platform following Iran’s retaliatory strike. He described Iran’s response as very weak and expressed relief that there were no casualties or serious damage. Trump also confirmed that Iran had warned the United States in advance.

“Iran has officially responded to our elimination of its nuclear facilities, and I am pleased to inform you that it was not dangerous. I hope no Americans were harmed. I appreciate that Iran gave us advance warning — it allowed us to ensure no one was hurt. I hope they will continue to act this way in the region. I thank them for the warning,” Trump wrote.

It’s worth recalling that five years ago, after the US killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, Iran also struck US bases in Iraq — but first warned Washington to avoid major casualties. Back then, Trump acknowledged the warning in public. This time, it appears Tehran once again notified the US before launching its strike on the Al-Udeid base in Qatar, though how much detail they gave remains unclear.

What is Al-Udeid air base?

Al-Udeid is the largest strategic US military asset in West Asia. Located southwest of Doha, Qatar, it hosts about 10,000 American troops and covers roughly 60 hectares. The base was established in 1996 and serves as the headquarters for US Central Command (CENTCOM), overseeing US military operations from Egypt’s western border to Kazakhstan. The Qatari Emiri Air Force, the US Air Force, the UK’s Royal Air Force, and other allied forces also operate from Al-Udeid.

What is the situation in Qatar?

After the US strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Tehran’s threat of retaliation raised the risk of attacks in Qatar. Hours before Iran’s strike on Al-Udeid, the US embassy in Qatar issued a security warning to American citizens in the country. Following the attack, some local schedules were adjusted. Qatar’s Ministry of Education announced that all exams planned for June 24 were postponed to June 25. The Ministry of Interior declared that the situation in the country was “completely stable” and that all agencies were working together to ensure public safety. Meanwhile, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry stated that life had quickly returned to normal and called on all parties to engage in negotiations. The airspace, briefly closed after Iran’s missile strike, was reopened five hours later.

Is the war over?

In his first statement after the Iranian strike, US President Donald Trump called for a ceasefire and urged Israel to stop its attacks. After that, events unfolded rapidly. Reports of a possible truce spread in the middle of the night, and within two hours, Trump himself declared that an agreement for a ceasefire was in place. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced that Iran would stop its retaliatory attacks if Israel ceased its strikes by 4:00 AM local time, giving the world hope that the conflict might de-escalate in the coming hours.

“Congratulations to everyone! Under this agreement, the entire world recognizes that whoever fires first will be held responsible. I congratulate Israel and Iran for ending this war. It could have lasted for years and destroyed the whole Middle East — but that will not happen!” the US President wrote.

Iranian officials emphasized that they did not start the war and stressed that they would only stop if Israeli attacks ended. Despite Trump’s announcement, Israel reportedly continued strikes on Iranian targets for some time. Foreign media outlets, including Reuters, later reported that Iran had agreed to a ceasefire. There were even claims that a formal peace deal would be signed on June 25 with Qatar acting as mediator. However, the current situation contradicts some of these optimistic reports. As of the time of writing, the war has not yet ended completely.