In its first aerial combat mission, Qatar downs Iranian SU-24 bombers ‘two minutes’ before strike on Al Udeid Air Base
A source familiar with the incident told CNN that the Iranian jets were "two minutes" away from their targets. Another source said the plans were identified and photographed carrying "bombs and guided munitions."
Firefighters work as smoke rises outside a damaged warehouse in an industrial area in Al Rayyan, Qatar, following an Iranian strike, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo)
As the US-Israel war on Iran intensifies, attacks on Gulf nations have risen. Qatar, which houses one of the largest US bases was minutes away from turning into rubble but was saved by swift Qatari action Monday morning.
The war began with a joint military action by US and Israel against Iran on February 28.The attack resulted in the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ayotollah Ali Khamenei.
‘Two minutes away’
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had sent two tactical bombers, the Soviet-made SU-24, towards the al-Udeid Air Base and were “two minutes” away from their targets when a Qatari F-15 fighter jet engaged them in “aerial combat” before shooting them down.
This was the first time that Qatar engaged in an aerial combat mission. Sources say that the Iranian jets had switched to flying altitude to evade detection by the radar system. They were classified as hostile aircrafts and were shot down into Qatar’s territorial waters.
‘No genuine desire’ to deescalate: Qatari Prime Minister
Qatar’s Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday, describing the event as an “escalatory” one. He said that the actions of Iran show that they have “no genuine desire” to de-escalate or resolve the issue.
“Rather, it seeks to inflict harm on its neighbors and drag them into a war that is not theirs,” Al Thani said, according to a readout of the call.
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Iran’s attack on Middle East
Iran continues to step up its retaliatory attacks targeting American diplomatic missions in the Middle East ever since the US-Israeli strikes began.
On Tuesday, Iran launched a drone near the US consulate in Dubai. The Dubai Media Office later shared visuals informing the public that the fire had been extinguished.
According to regional governments, the Iranian regime has launched more than 400 ballistic missiles and over 1,000 drones at Gulf nations following the US–Israeli strike.
More than 1,000 people have been killed in Iran, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), The toll includes 183 children, most of them under the age of 10, according to the latest figures released by HRANA on Thursday, CNN reported.
At least 1,473 Israelis have been hospitalised in Israel.
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