Explosions were heard in the skies over Qatar, which is home to a major US military base.

00:36

DOHA- Iran launched attacks on American targets in the Middle East on Monday, 23, in retaliation for the bombing of its nuclear plants by the US over the weekend.

According to Iranian state media, the target was Al-Udaid Air Base, the largest and most strategic US base in the region, which houses the US Central Command. At least 10,000 US soldiers and civilians serve there. There was no damage or casualties, according to the Pentagon.

Iran coordinated the attacks on the US air base in Qatar with Qatari officials and gave advance warning that the strikes were coming in order to minimize casualties, according to three Iranian officials familiar with the plans.

Qatar said its air defenses successfully intercepted the Iranian missiles.

“We affirm that Qatar reserves the right to directly respond in a manner commensurate with the nature and scale of this brazen aggression, in accordance with international law,” Majed Al Ansari, spokesman for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a post on X.

According to the Qatari government, the situation in the country is stable and there was no major damage.

Trump thanks for ‘weak attack’

US President Donald Trump called the attack a “very weak” retaliatory strike.

“Iran has officially responded to our destruction of their nuclear facilities with a very weak response, something we expected and countered very effectively,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, after launching several missiles at the American base at Al Udeid in Qatar.

“I want to thank Iran for giving advance warning, which ensured that no lives were lost and no one was injured,” he added.

The base had been on alert for attacks for days, since the start of the confrontation between Israel and Iran.

Qatar announced it is temporarily suspending traffic in its airspace “to ensure the safety of its citizens, residents and visitors.”

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have taken a similar step. Both countries serve as aviation hubs for routes between Europe and Asia.

The Iranians said the neighboring country was not a target of the attack.

Iranian retaliation

The attack comes two days after the US bombing of the Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan nuclear plants, which marked the US entry into the conflict between Israel and Iran, after days of uncertainty over whether President Donald Trump would use force or rely on diplomacy to resolve the crisis.

The American strikes caused significant damage to nuclear power plants, but failed to completely destroy the Persian nuclear program.

In the last 24 hours, there has been speculation that Iran could also take some action to block navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil production passes.

Israeli bombing

Earlier, Israel launched sweeping strikes on sites considered symbols of Iran's theocracy on Monday, 23, including a headquarters of the country's Revolutionary Guard, a prison holding thousands of opponents and the Fordo nuclear plant.

The new Israeli strikes came after Tehran launched dozens of missiles at Israel on Sunday, 22, and Monday. / AFP AND NYT

Iran says it will defend itself 'by all means necessary'

00:35