Qatar’s capital, Doha, was tense as multiple explosions erupted across the city as air defense systems intercepted missiles launched from Iran. Another escalation of a war that is spreading throughout the Middle East is imminent and fears are growing of a regional war between Gulf nations.
Qatar’s Ministry of Defence said the country’s armed forces intercepted a number of ballistic missiles before they could reach their intended targets. The interception did not result in a large-scale loss and emergency services were on high alert to determine what the fallen debris would do.
Residents in several areas of Doha reported hearing loud explosions overnight in the early hours, and videos on social media showed flash lights in the sky that appeared to be missile interceptions.
Emergency teams were deployed to check on affected areas and government officials recommended calm and followed up on government advice, where emergency workers were carrying out inspections throughout the affected areas, officials said.
The latest strike comes amid increasing military tension between Iran and its regional foes. Iran has intensified anti-U.S. military operations in recent days following continued U.S. military operations in the region.
And Qatar, a strategically important base for the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, has been most vulnerable for more than a decade and has maintained diplomatic ties with a number of other countries in the region.
Qatari officials said national security is in control and that the country’s defense systems did well at the time. The government also said it is committed to protecting the lives and property of civilians and critical infrastructure and working closely with international partners to monitor the situation.
The missile interception once again has exposed how fragile the security condition is in the Gulf region. Several neighboring countries have stepped up air defense measures and airlines are monitoring the airspace in the Gulf region for any possible turbulence.
The energy markets are also closely watching developments as a potential uptick in the Gulf region of oil and LNG supplies could have an impact on global production.
VIDEO | Qatar: Explosions heard in Doha as Qatar intercepts missile attack from Iran.
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Only for use in India (Source: AFP/PTI)
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International leaders have called for restraint and all sides should avoid a major escalation. Negotiations are expected to escalate on the international stage and governments will try to keep things calm.
The current incident is indicative of the increasing significance of missile defense systems to protect Gulf nations from the threat of evolving regional threats from other war actors, security experts say. Qatar was successful in intercepting the threat and prevented a larger disaster, but if more wars break out, more may happen in the future.
The situation remains fluid and authorities continue monitoring for further threats. Residents should be advised to rely on official government announcements and not unverified social media posts.
The world is watching developments as tensions are at their highest in years.
