Qatar’s air force reportedly shot down two Iranian bomber aircraft that were approaching key targets near Doha, preventing a potential strike on a major US military installation.
The incident marks the first air-to-air combat engagement for the Qatari Air Force.
According to reports, the Iranian aircraft were just minutes away from their targets when Qatari fighter jets intercepted and destroyed them.
Iranian Jets Approached Major Military Base
The two aircraft were identified as Sukhoi Su‑24 bombers reportedly launched by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The jets were heading toward Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US military base in the Middle East, which houses roughly 10,000 American troops.
Another potential target was Ras Laffan Industrial City, a major natural gas processing hub critical to Qatar’s economy.
Jets Shot Down Minutes Before Strike
According to sources cited in international media reports, the Iranian bombers had descended to approximately 80 feet altitude to evade radar detection.
Qatari authorities reportedly issued radio warnings to the aircraft after visually identifying them carrying bombs and guided munitions. However, the pilots did not respond.
Due to the limited response time and the perceived threat, Qatari forces classified the aircraft as hostile targets.
Qatar scrambled fighter jets, including McDonnell Douglas F‑15 aircraft, which intercepted the bombers and shot them down during a brief aerial engagement.
The downed aircraft reportedly crashed into Qatar’s territorial waters, and authorities later launched search operations for the crews.
Part of Escalating Iran-US Conflict
The attempted strike comes amid escalating hostilities across the Middle East following military operations by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets.
Iran has reportedly launched missiles and drone attacks toward several countries hosting US military facilities, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates.
The aerial confrontation near Doha marked the first time Iran deployed manned aircraft against a neighboring state in the current conflict.
Qatar Calls Incident Escalatory
Following the incident, Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani reportedly described the attempted strike as a serious escalation during a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Qatari officials stated that the attempted attack demonstrated actions that could further widen the conflict across the region.
