Why Iran Chose Qatar To Target US Bases In The Region
On June 23, Iran launched Operation Basharat al-Fath against US bases in the region in retaliation for US strikes on the three major nuclear sites in Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced to launch powerful missile strike on Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which is America’s largest military base in West Asia.
However, no incidents or casualties were reported from the attack. Qatar has said that it reserves its right to respond after an Iranian attack. Reportedly, Iran gave advance notice to Qatar against the missile strikes to minimise casualties.
Read also: “Israel & Iran Came To Me”: Trump Takes Credit For Ceasefire
Almost all of the countries in the Middle East/West Asia, including Oman, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Djibouti, Lebanon, and Turkiye have US bases. In most countries US has multiple bases: the Navy, Air Force, and Army.
The 24-hectare Al Udeid Air Base, in the desert outside the capital Doha, is the forward headquarters for U.S. Central Command, which directs U.S. military operations in a huge swathe of territory stretching from Egypt in the west to Kazakhstan in the east. The Middle East’s largest U.S. base houses around 10,000 troops.
The question is why Iran chose US bases in Qatar in response to the US strikes on Iran on June 22, 2025. As per the analysts, Qatar harbours the largest US base in the region, so the Iranian missile attacks are taken as more of a symbolic attack. Iran also gave prior notice to Qatar against the missile strikes.
Read also: Flights Resume In Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain And UAE
Moreover, geographically, Qatar is more isolated in the region than other countries, and the missiles did not pass through the airspace of any other Gulf country.
Qatar’s strained ties with Saudi Arabia and GCC countries are also considered as one of the reasons by analysts to choose US bases in Qatar to target in the region. However, Qatar or any Arab country on its own cannot retaliate against Iran on its own due to its military dependency on the US. The support of the US is an important factor for any Arab country to retaliate.
