FnF News
🇺🇸 FNF News | Middle East Crisis | U.S. Military Watch
Published: June 26, 2025
By: Khadija Khan, Senior Global Affairs Editor
Qatar’s Skies Erupt: Iran Fires 19 Missiles at U.S. Base as Ceasefire Collapses in Real Time
DOHA — The fragile ceasefire negotiated by former President Trump between Iran and Israel shattered within hours as Iran launched a barrage of 19 ballistic missiles at the U.S. Al‑Udeid Air Base in Qatar. While American and Qatari air defenses intercepted the majority, the symbolic and strategic message from Tehran was deafening: there will be no quiet exit from this crisis.
Iran’s military dubbed the strike “Operation Glad Tidings of Victory,” declaring it a “measured response” to the devastating U.S. bombing raids that struck deep into its nuclear infrastructure earlier this week. The U.S. Pentagon confirmed no casualties, but global markets, airspace, and diplomacy are now on alert.
Missile Fire & Political Theater
- According to CENTCOM sources, Iran’s missile salvo targeted critical runway and radar sites at Al‑Udeid, the largest American base in the Gulf.
- The missiles were launched just minutes after Israel resumed strikes in Syria, violating the newly announced ceasefire window.
- Iranian state media claims the strike was deliberately limited and that Qatar was given early warning, allowing for intercept protocols to engage.
President Trump dismissed the attack as “very weak”, calling it a “predictable and pre-announced stunt.” But inside military briefings, officials characterized the strike as a stress test of U.S. Gulf readiness.
Qatar Responds with Full Force
Qatar’s Ministry of Defense reported that its joint missile defense systems—a web of U.S. Patriots, Norwegian NASAMS, British Rapiers, and forward-deployed THAAD units—intercepted 18 out of 19 incoming missiles. The remaining missile caused minor damage to a runway perimeter.
In a rare public rebuke, Qatar condemned Iran’s action, calling it “a violation of bilateral security understandings,” even as it acknowledged Tehran’s warning as the only reason no one was killed.
Ceasefire Collapse Confirmed
Hours after the U.S. called the ceasefire “intact,” both Israeli and Iranian forces resumed operations:
- Israeli jets struck IRGC and Hezbollah-linked depots in Syria and southern Lebanon.
- Iran fired drones and short-range missiles toward Israel’s northern settlements and launched cyberattacks targeting Israeli electrical grids.
White House officials now concede the ceasefire is “functionally broken.” EU diplomats involved in backchannel coordination have left the region.
U.S. Forces and Allies on High Alert
In addition to Al‑Udeid, U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE have raised security levels. Carrier groups including the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Carl Vinson have taken up new positions flanking the Strait of Hormuz.
Defense officials say the U.S. is prepared for multi-front escalation but will “respond proportionally.”
Global Markets, Cyber Threats, and Proxy Watch
Despite the escalation:
- Oil prices dropped 6.9%, reflecting trader confidence in Gulf defenses and belief that Tehran’s actions were symbolic.
- Cyber Command reported increased Iranian-linked hacking attempts targeting Western financial systems and U.S. defense contractors.
- Hezbollah, Iraqi militias, and the Houthis have entered elevated readiness, but none have yet launched retaliatory operations.