Iranian bombers were ‘minutes away’ from striking US base in Qatar

The planes, two Su-24 tactical bombers, targeted two key sites: Al Udeid Air Base, home to approximately 10,000 US troops, and Ras Laffan, a gas processing facility.

Qatari planes were just minutes away from Iranian tactical bombers hitting a US military base on Monday, CNN reported.

The planes, two Su-24 tactical bombers, apparently targeted two key sites in Qatar: Al Udeid Air Base, where about 10,000 US troops are housed, and Ras Laffan, a gas processing plant.

Sources told CNN that the jets were visually identified as “carrying bombs and guided munitions,” flying at low altitude to evade radar and not responding to radio alerts.

The aircraft was classified as hostile and was destroyed in aerial combat by a Qatari F-15 fighter jet, just “two minutes” away from its targets.

This operation marked the first time Qatar’s air force had engaged in air-to-air combat, CNN said, adding that it was unusual for Iran to attack using manned aircraft rather than missiles or unmanned aerial vehicles.

Qatar accuses Iran of trying to draw them into war

During the meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani on Wednesday, the Prime Minister cited this attack as one of several attacks carried out by Iran against Qatar.

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said of the call in a post on

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated that the Prime Minister was referring to Qatar’s right to self-defense when he said that “such attacks cannot remain unanswered”.