US Military Base in Qatar Suffers Missile Strike, Originating from Iran, According to Pentagon Revelations in June
In the early hours of June 23, 2025, the modernisation enterprise terminal (MET) at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar was severely damaged by an Iranian missile attack. The MET, a $15 million secure communications suite, was housed in a geodesic radome that was destroyed by at least one missile that penetrated U.S. missile defenses. Satellite imagery shows the radome intact before the attack and missing afterwards, with visible burn marks and damage nearby, indicating the radome and its antenna were heavily damaged and may require total replacement.
The U.S. and Qatari Patriot anti-missile systems intercepted most of the missiles during the attack, with only one missile causing minimal damage to equipment and structures on the base. Despite this damage, U.S. officials stated that the base sustained minimal other damage and remained fully operational.
Al Udeid Air Base, the U.S. military's largest airbase in the Middle East, hosts the forward headquarters of U.S. Central Command and U.S. Air Forces Central, and is home to CENCTOM's Combined Air Operations Center. The base was evacuated during the attack to mitigate potential damage, with most planes moved away from the base. No casualties were reported in the attack.
President Donald Trump stated that 13 missiles were intercepted and one missile was "set free" during the attack. He also confirmed that there were no American or Qatari casualties during the attack. Al Udeid Air Base remains fully operational and capable of conducting its mission.
The MET provides critical secure voice, video, and data communications linking U.S. Central Command forces with global military leaders, making its loss significant but not mission-ending. Reports indicated that something got through during the attack, according to Air Force Gen. Dan Caine in a Pentagon briefing on June 26. However, the exact nature and extent of the damage to the base remain unclear.
The attack was a part of a series of strikes on Iranian facilities, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, by the U.S. in the early hours of June 22, local time. Iran had warned Qatar in advance that it was going to attack Al Udeid Air Base, according to media reports. Additional U.S. Patriot systems were relocated from Japan and Korea to Al Udeid Air Base in advance of the attack.
[1] "Al Udeid Air Base Suffers Damage in Iranian Missile Attack," CNN, June 23, 2025. [2] "Iranian Missile Strike Hits Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar," BBC News, June 23, 2025. [3] "Al Udeid Air Base Damage Assessment," Defense One, June 26, 2025. [4] "U.S. Military's Largest Airbase in Middle East Attacked by Iran," Fox News, June 23, 2025.
- The Pentagon revealed that the MET, a critical secure communications suite at Al Udeid Air Base, was destroyed by an Iranian missile during the attack, necessitating possible total replacement.
- The U.S. Space Force, in collaboration with the Air Force, relocated additional Patriot systems from Japan and Korea to Al Udeid Air Base prior to the missile attack.
- The attack on Al Udeid Air Base was part of a series of Iranian retaliatory strikes on various facilities, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, a few days earlier.
- Iran had warned Qatar in advance about its plan to attack Al Udeid Air Base, as reported by multiple news outlets.
- A $15 million geodesic radome housing the MET was penetrated by at least one missile, causing significant damage, according to satellite imagery analyzed by media sources.
- Despite the MET's loss and damage to equipment and structures, the U.S. officials reported that the Al Udeid Air Base remained fully operational and capable of fulfilling its war-and-conflicts, defense, and general-news related missions.
