By Gloria Nosa
Tensions in the Middle East soared to alarming new heights as Iran launched a barrage of 10s of ballistic missiles targeting U.S. military installations in Qatar and Iraq. The strikes, which occurred in the early hours of Monday morning, mark Tehran’s most direct retaliation yet in response to a controversial U.S. bombing campaign reportedly ordered by President Donald Trump against Iranian military and nuclear assets.
According to initial reports from U.S. defense officials, the missiles struck near two key American bases: Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, home to U.S. Central Command operations, and Ain al-Asad Air Base in western Iraq, which houses hundreds of American and coalition troops. The Pentagon confirmed that multiple projectiles made impact but said casualty assessments are ongoing. Preliminary reports suggest several injuries but no confirmed fatalities at this time.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) took responsibility for the strikes, calling them a “measured and legitimate act of defense” following what they described as a “criminal U.S. air campaign on Iranian soil.” A statement aired on Iranian state television warned of further military action if the U.S. or its allies respond with force.
This latest episode of military confrontation comes days after American bombers reportedly struck key Iranian missile facilities and a suspected nuclear development site in central Iran. The operation, which was neither confirmed nor denied by the White House, drew swift condemnation from Tehran and raised global concerns about an all-out regional war.
In Washington, the missile strikes triggered an emergency meeting of the National Security Council. President Trump, addressing the nation briefly from the White House lawn, declared that “America will defend its people and its assets wherever they are in the world,” signaling the possibility of further U.S. military action in the coming hours or days.
The international community has reacted with alarm. The United Nations called for restraint, warning that continued escalation between Iran and the United States could destabilize not only the Middle East but global economic systems, particularly energy markets. Oil prices spiked by nearly 7% in early trading Monday, reflecting fears over potential disruption to shipping routes in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
NATO and several European nations have urged both parties to exercise restraint and return to diplomacy. Meanwhile, Gulf nations including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait have placed their militaries on high alert, anticipating further fallout from the growing crisis.
In Iraq, government officials expressed frustration at being caught in the crossfire once again. “Iraq is not a battleground,” said a spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s office. “We urge both Iran and the United States to end their conflict on our soil and respect our sovereignty.”
As of now, the situation remains fluid. Military analysts fear that the tit-for-tat strikes could spiral into a broader conflict that draws in multiple regional players, with devastating consequences. Both Washington and Tehran face mounting pressure—domestically and internationally—to deescalate before the violence erupts into an uncontrollable war.
The coming hours are expected to be critical in determining whether diplomacy can pull the region back from the brink—or whether the Middle East is about to witness its most dangerous confrontation in decades.
