Doha: There were no US combat or logistical elements at the Al Udeid Base in the southwest of Doha that participated in operations against Iran, a senior Qatari defense official told Al Jazeera. In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera’s Ma Khafi A’zam program, Deputy Chief of Staff for Joint Operations Shayeq Misfer al-Hajri confirmed that no US forces at the base were involved in any military actions against Iran.
According to Anadolu Agency, the interview also featured Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari dismissing Iran’s claims that Qatar provided evidence of American forces using Qatari territory. Al-Ansari stated that Iran’s allegations were false and were an attempt to justify its attacks on Qatar. He highlighted the significant damage to Qatar’s energy sector, emphasizing that the nation does not leverage its energy resources for political pressure.
The program further revealed exclusive footage showing Iranian ballistic missile debris in residential areas of Qatar. It also documented, for the first time, the targeting of the Ras Laffan Power Facility during Iranian attacks. Recently, a two-week ceasefire was announced by the US and Iran, brokered by Pakistan, as a step towards a broader agreement to halt the ongoing conflict.
Shayeq Misfer al-Hajri noted that Qatari forces successfully repelled over 90% of Iranian aerial attacks. According to an Anadolu tally, Iran has targeted seven Arab countries, primarily in the Gulf, with over 6,413 missiles and drones, as well as a fighter jet attack, over the past 41 days. This includes attacks during the initial days of the Washington-Tehran ceasefire.
Regional tensions have been high since the US and Israel launched an offensive against Iran on February 28, resulting in over 3,000 deaths, including the then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In retaliation, Tehran has carried out drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. Additionally, Iran has imposed restrictions on ship movements through the Strait of Hormuz.