Iran Attacks US Airbase In Qatar: Top Points

A day after the United States made its official entry into the escalating conflict in West Asia as an ally of Israel and carried out coordinated air and missile strikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan, Iran, on Monday retaliated with missile strikes targeting a US air base in Qatar.

The aerial assaults in West Asia raged as Tehran vowed retaliation over the bunker-buster bombs that American warplanes unleashed on three Iranian nuclear sites on June 22.

Earlier, quoting officials, CNN reported that the United States used six B-2 bombers to drop a dozen bunker buster bombs on the Fordow nuclear site in Iran while the Navy submarines fired 30 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM) missiles at two other sites, Natanz and Isfahan.

U.S. President Donald Trump insisted the attack had 'obliterated' Iran’s nuclear capabilities, but other officials said it was too soon to determine how significantly Tehran’s nuclear programme had been impacted.

Confirming the strikes, Trump came up with a series of posts on Truth Social, shortly before addressing the nation from the White House. "We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran's airspace," he wrote on Truth Social.

Here we have the top developments of the day.

Iran-Israel Conflict: Top Developments

Iran begins retaliation against US: The state-run Tasnim agency said that Iran's Revolutionary Guard launched missiles at US bases in Qatar and Iraq. The state media also announced that Iran had begun its 'mighty and victorious' response to US strikes.

The Iranian Supreme National Security Council said that the missile strike against Al Udeid Air Base was away from residential areas in Qatar.

“This action does not pose any threat to the friendly and brotherly country, Qatar, and its noble people, and the Islamic Republic of Iran remains committed to maintaining and continuing warm and historic relations with Qatar,” the council said in a statement.

However, quoting US military officials, Reuters reported that Qatar's Al Udeid Air Base was the only US military base targeted by Iran. The official confirmed there was no impact on the base just outside Qatar’s capital, Doha.

“At this time, there are no reports of US casualties. We are monitoring this situation closely and will provide more information as it becomes available", the official said

Israel Hits Fordow N-site, Evin Prison: Israel’s Defence Ministry said it hit targets including the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran and the security headquarters of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guards.

Iran’s underground enrichment site at Fordow, which was one of those hit in Sunday’s attack by the U.S. on three nuclear facilities, was also struck again.

Putin Says 'No Justification': Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday told the Iranian Foreign Minister that there was no justification for the United States' attack on Iran, reported Reuters. The remarks came while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was in Moscow two days after the US strikes. 

The Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had sent Araghchi to request more help from Russia after the biggest US military action against the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution. 

Putin told Araghchi in a televised statement that, "The absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran has no basis and no justification.”

"For our part, we are making efforts to assist the Iranian people. I am very glad that you (Araghchi) are in Moscow today, this will give us the opportunity to discuss all these pressing issues and think together about how we could get out of today's situation," he added. 

Qatar closes airspace: Qatar has decided to temporarily suspend air traffic as 'precautionary measures' due to regional security concerns.

In a statement, the State of Qatar said, "As per the State of Qatar’s commitment to the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors, the competent authorities announce the temporary suspension of air traffic in the country’s airspace. This is part of a set of precautionary measures taken based on developments in the region", the Qatari Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Qatar’s airspace shutdown coincides with Iran’s threats to retaliate against the United States, following US strikes on its nuclear facilities over the weekend.

More Indians evacuated: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that 290 Indian nationals and one Sri Lankan national were evacuated from Mashhad on a special flight that arrived in New Delhi at 19:15 hrs on 23 June.

With this, 2003 Indian nationals have been brought back safely from Iran so far under Operation Sindhu.