Iran launches missile attack on US military base in Qatar

(NewsNation) — Iran launched a missile attack on a U.S. military base in Qatar, in retaliation for the American bombing of its nuclear sites.

NewsNation's Brian Entin was on the ground in Doha and said he had a feeling something was imminent after Qatar closed its airspace as a precaution amid threats from Iran.

"We were driving and we started to hear bangs," Entin described. "We were on the highway, we pulled over and got out. Other people started pulling over their cars, too. We looked up, and you could see these little flashes of light, many of them flying away from the United States military base."

Entin added that there were at least two flashing lights that he observed that appeared to be flying in the opposite direction, and the end of Doha, going over the skyscrapers towards the military base.

No sirens were sounded in the city, and Entin acknowledged that it appears the worst of that attack didn't unfold at the base.

U.S. confirms attack from Iran: Official

The United States on Monday previously said it was closely monitoring potential threats after explosions were heard in Qatar.

“I can confirm that al Udeid Air Base was attacked by short-range and medium-range, ballistic missiles originating from Iran today at this time there are no reports of US casualties," a U.S. Defense official told NewsNation.

"We are monitoring the situation closely and will provide more information as it becomes available.”

Iran acknowledged the missile barrage on Qatar was the same number as bombs used by the U.S. on nuclear sites, signaling a desire to de-escalate.

"We express the State of Qatar's strong condemnation of the attack on Al Udeid Air Base by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, and consider it a flagrant violation of the State of Qatar's sovereignty and airspace, as well as of international law and the United Nations Charter, said a Qarar Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson.

"We affirm that the State of Qatar reserves the right to respond directly in a manner proportional to the nature and scale of this blatant aggression and in accordance with international law."

Iran has threatened U.S. base is Qatar before

Iran, in the past, has threatened American forces at Al Udeid Air Base, which hosts the forward headquarters of the U.S. military’s Central Command.

Before the attack, Israel also expanded its war against Iran to include targets associated with the country’s struggling theocracy.

Qatar's Ministry of Defense says that the country's air defense successfully intercepted a missile attack on the al Udeid Air Base.

The Gulf nation of Bahrain, home to the U.S. 5th Fleet headquarters, says it is temporarily suspending flights in its airspace.