Qatar Intercepts Missile Attack as Middle East Tensions Escalate

Qatar said on Tuesday evening that its armed forces intercepted a missile attack targeting the country amid rising tensions across the Middle East.

In a brief statement, the Qatari Ministry of Defence confirmed that air defence systems successfully intercepted the incoming missile but did not provide further details about the incident.

Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera reported that explosions were heard in the skies over Doha, believed to be the result of interception operations carried out by the country’s air defence units.

Earlier, the defence ministry said air defence systems had shot down five ballistic missiles launched toward Qatari territory from Iran.

The development comes amid heightened regional tensions following a joint military strike by Israel and the United States against Iran on Feb. 28, which reportedly killed more than 1,200 people and injured about 10,000 others.

In response, Tehran has launched retaliatory drone and missile attacks targeting Israel as well as several countries in the region, including Jordan and Iraq, along with Gulf states hosting U.S. military installations.