Iran retaliates: Missile attacks on US bases in Qatar and Iraq

A day after US bombers attacked Iranian nuclear facilities, Iran has carried out retaliatory strikes. The country's armed forces launched simultaneous missile attacks on the US military base 'Al-Udeid' in Qatar and the 'Ain al-Assad' base in Iraq. Iran's state media Press TV confirmed the news.

The Iranian armed forces said in a statement that the attack was carried out in response to the US' direct military aggression against the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities. Calling the aggression a clear violation of international law, Iran claimed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a powerful missile attack on the Al-Udeid base in Qatar using the sacred code "Ya Aba Abdullah al-Hussein (AS)" on the orders of the Supreme National Security Council and the Khatam al-Anbia Command.

The base is an important headquarters for the US Air Force and is considered America's most strategic military base in West Asia. The Iranian military statement also said that the message of this attack to the White House and its allies is clear - the Islamic Republic of Iran will never leave its territorial integrity, sovereignty or national security violations unanswered.

Meanwhile, the Iranian news agency Mehr News reported that the Ain al-Assad US base in western Iraq was also attacked at the same time. According to Reuters, the base's air defense system was activated during the attack. Axios sources claimed that Iran fired six missiles at the US base.

After this incident, the United Arab Emirates temporarily closed its airspace as a precautionary measure. According to Reuters, explosions were heard in the Qatari capital Doha. On the other hand, CNN reported that Iran fired a total of 11 missiles at the US bases. Iran's state television IRIB reported that the retaliatory operation was called "Victory Message".

Analysts believe that the attacks and counter-attacks could create new tensions in the Middle East and lead to a larger conflict in the future. In this situation, if international diplomacy is not stepped up, the region could be headed for further uncertainty.