Qatar's air force shot down two Iranian Su-24 bombers that were minutes away from striking al-Udeid Air Base, a major US military installation in Qatar. According to multiple reports, the Qatari F-15 fighters engaged the Iranian jets in aerial combat after they failed to respond to warnings and were classified as hostile.
Key Takeaways
Qatar's air force shot down two Iranian Su-24 bombers that were minutes away from striking a major US military base in Qatar. This incident marks the first time Qatari forces have engaged in aerial combat since Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in recent attacks.
- Two Iranian Su-24 bombers were shot down by Qatari F-15 fighters
- The bombers were minutes away from striking al-Udeid Air Base, which houses 10,000 US service members
- Qatar issued a warning to the Iranian jets but received no response
- Iran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Gulf states in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes
The incident occurred on Monday morning when Iran's Revolutionary Guard dispatched two Soviet-era Su-24 tactical bombers toward al-Udeid Air Base and Ras Laffan, a key natural gas processing facility. The Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari confirmed that a search is underway for the crews of the downed planes.
This marks the first time Qatar has engaged in air-to-air combat since Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in recent US-Israeli attacks on Tehran. The incident comes amid ongoing tensions as Iran retaliates against US and Israeli airstrikes with hundreds of missiles and drones targeting Gulf states.
US Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, acknowledged the incident without specifying the target. In a call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani described the incident as escalatory and indicative of Iran's lack of genuine desire for de-escalation.
The situation has disrupted regional stability, affecting energy production and causing widespread concern about further escalation in the conflict. QatarEnergy halted liquefied natural gas (LNG) production due to the attacks, leading to a surge in European natural gas prices.
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