The conflict between Iran and Israel has escalated with missile strikes, but this past Monday, Tehran surprisingly launched multiple missiles at Qatar, claiming it was retaliation against the United States, causing the airspace to shut down and disrupting many flights. The primary target of Iran's strike was the Al Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East.

In response, Qatar successfully intercepted all incoming missiles from Tehran, resulting in no casualties. U.S. President Donald Trump took to social media, mocking the attack as a 'very weak response', stating that the U.S. had anticipated such actions and had effective countermeasures in place. Reports indicated that Iran launched a total of 14 missiles and 'thanked' for the prior notice, allowing the U.S. to ensure no one was harmed.

Located in the deserts southwest of Doha, Qatar's capital, Al Udeid Air Base serves as the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East and has operated since 1996 as a forward command center for United States Central Command. Currently, around 8,000 American troops are stationed there, with the base peaking at around 10,000 military personnel during the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Qatar has invested an astonishing $8 billion over the past two decades into this base, transforming it from a flat desert into a luxurious and fully functional military forward operations center. In addition to Al Udeid, U.S. Central Command has military bases across seven Middle Eastern countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, contributing to regional security.