US President Donald Trump is in Qatar. It’s mid-May, 2025.
He addresses troops at Al Udeid air base — the largest US base in the Middle East and the launch point for air, sea, and intelligence missions.
At the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the base hosted around 10,000 US soldiers.
US President Donald Trump arrives to speak with troops at Al Udeid air base on May 15, 2025. (AFP: Brendan Smialowski/File)
“No visit in the Gulf would be complete without stopping to salute the people who keep America safe, strong and free,” Mr Trump says.
“I am thrilled to be here with the men and women who embody American strength and pride.”
Several weeks later, on June 13, Israel launches “pre-emptive” strikes against Iran, sparking a war between the two countries.
Speculation about the potential of US involvement runs rampant.
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At 2:10am Arabia Standard Time (AST) in Tehran (8:31am AEST) on June 22, that speculation is answered.
The US military launches Operation Midnight Hammer, striking three Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
Iranian retaliation is expected.
It’s thought the United States’s roughly 40,000 troops at some 19 military facilities across the region could be targeted.
US tells citizens ‘shelter in place’
The Australian government updates its Smartraveller website at midday on Monday, June 23, warning that “the situation in the Middle East is unpredictable”.
“It could get worse with little warning. Security risks may increase,” it says.
“There may be travel disruptions within the region and globally.“
The US Department of State issues a warning to people in Qatar at 2:45pm AST (9:45pm AEST).
“Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend American citizens shelter in place until further notice,” it says.
Doha was not directly affected by the Israel-Iran war until Monday. (Reuters: Clodagh Kilcoyne/File)
Britain also tells its citizens in the region to shelter in place.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 6:30pm AST announces it will temporarily close the country’s airspace “in order to ensure the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors”.
The last plane to arrive into Doha is a Qatar Airways flight from Los Angeles that lands at 6:31pm AST according to flight tracking website Flightradar24.
“We neither initiated the war nor wanted it,” Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian posts on social media at 7:04pm AST.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaking earlier this month. (Reuters: West Asia News Agency)
“But we will not leave the aggression against mighty Iran unanswered.“
Qatari officials receive reports around 26 minutes later that missiles have been launched from Iran.
Witnesses in Doha report seeing explosions in the sky.
Iran’s military, speaking on state television, says it has targeted US forces stationed at Al Udeid air base in Qatar.
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But the base was evacuated before the attack — and just one missile lands there, without causing any casualties.
It’s later confirmed that a total of 19 missiles were fired from Iran.
As of 7:55pm AST, Flightradar24 says Qatar and UAE airspace is still closed.
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Airspace over Bahrain and Kuwait is also closed temporarily.
About 9pm AST, images of the Iranian missiles being intercepted over Doha start coming in.
Traces are seen in the sky after Iran’s armed forces say they targeted the Al Udeid base in a missile attack. (Reuters)
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Qatar’s Foreign Ministry issues a statement at 9:17pm AST condemning Iranian strikes as “a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, its airspace, international law, and the United Nations Charter”.
“Qatar was one of the first countries to warn against the dangers of Israeli escalation in the region, and have consistently called for diplomatic solutions to be prioritised,” it says.
Iran attacks against ‘good neighbourliness’
At 9:37pm AST, the secretary-general of the Arab League — a 22-member confederation — slams Iran.
“I express full solidarity with the State of Qatar in the face of the unacceptable and condemned assault on its sovereignty and the violation of its airspace by Iran,” says Ahmed Aboul Gheit, a former Egyptian foreign minister, on X.
“We remain hopeful that the current confrontation will be contained as soon as possible.”
Iranians gather in the streets of Tehran after Iran’s attack on a US air base. (Reuters: Majid Asgaripour/West Asia News Agency)
Speaking on television at 11:21pm AST, a Qatari official says Iran’s strikes are against the spirit of “good neighbourliness”.
Qatar reserves the right to “respond in accordance with international laws and in accordance with the shape and size of this attack”.
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The spokesperson says the situation in Qatar is “completely stable” and life is going back to normal.
“Iran has officially responded to our Obliteration of their Nuclear Facilities with a very weak response,” Mr Trump says on his Truth Social platform at 3:52pm, Washington time (10:52pm AST).
“I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured,” he says.
Mr Trump also thanks the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
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“Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same.”
But there is no suggestion of wanting peace from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who posts on X an hour later, at 12:31am Tehran time (12:01am AST).
“Those who know the Iranian people and their history know that the Iranian nation isn’t a nation that surrenders,” he says.
Ayatollah Khamenei strikes a defiant tone. (Reuters: West Asia News Agency/File)
Another hour later, it’s 7:23am in Canberra and Australia is waking up.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemns Iranian strikes, calling for “de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy”.
By 7:51am — 12:53am AST — Flightradar24 announces that Qatar airspace is back open and flights are landing again.
Qatar Airways says it has deployed extra ground staff at Doha airport to support passengers.
‘CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE!’
Mr Trump returns to Truth Social at 6:02pm Washington time (1:32am AST) to declare a “complete and total” ceasefire has been reached between Israel and Iran.
US President Donald Trump says a ceasefire has been struck in the war between Israel and Iran. (Truth Social)
“God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD!”
Two and a half hours later, Iraqi media reports an unidentified drone strike at the Taji military base north of the country’s capital at 3:34am AST.
No casualties are reported.
US Vice-President JD Vance tells Fox News that — “knock on wood” — without a single American casualty, the Iranian nuclear program has been “obliterated”.
Experts have said it’s too early to determine the extent of damage to Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
“We need to talk to Iran and, of course, to Israel about what the future holds,” Mr Vance says.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posts on X at 3:46am AST, rejecting Mr Trump’s claim of a mutually agreed ceasefire.
But, he says, “provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 am Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response afterwards”.
“The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later.”
