Iran carried out a missile attack on Monday night targeting US military bases in Qatar. The attack at the al-Udeid Air Base in Doha came in response to the US attack, plunging the West Asia region into a deeper crisis as countries issued high alert, shut their airspace and sounded sirens. Interceptor missiles are fired, after Iran’s armed forces say they targeted the Al-Udeid base in a missile attack, as seen from Doha, Qatar, (REUTERS)

Under ‘Operation Heralds of Victory,’ Iran targeted US military bases in Qatar and reportedly in Iraq, as part of its retaliatory measures against American airstrikes on its Isfahan, Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities.

Follow LIVE updates on the Iran-Israel war here

From blasts around Doha to Trump’s Truth Social announcement, here’s a look at how the night unfolded for Qatar.

Closed airspace to ceasefire: Key events of the night

Qatar shuts airspace: Ahead of the Iranian attack, the Qatari government announced it will be closing its airspace for the safety of its residents and visitors. Around 100 flights headed to Qatar scrambled as they diverted their routes or made emergency landings at nearby airports.

Ahead of the Iranian attack, the Qatari government announced it will be closing its airspace for the safety of its residents and visitors. Around 100 flights headed to Qatar scrambled as they diverted their routes or made emergency landings at nearby airports. Blasts heard in Doha: Hours after Doha shut its airspace, blasts were reported around the Qatari capital. With missiles spotted in the sky, sirens were sounded across the Gulf nation as Iran announced the start of its ‘Operation Herald of Victory’ against US bases in Qatar.

Hours after Doha shut its airspace, blasts were reported around the Qatari capital. With missiles spotted in the sky, sirens were sounded across the Gulf nation as Iran announced the start of its ‘Operation Herald of Victory’ against US bases in Qatar. Gulf states shut airspace: Following the attack on Doha, neighbouring Gulf states such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq also shut down their airspace ‘until further notice.’

Following the attack on Doha, neighbouring Gulf states such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq also shut down their airspace ‘until further notice.’ Iran confirms attack on US bases: In an official statement, the Iranian government confirmed its attack on US bases. “In response to the US aggressive and insolent action against Iran’s nuclear sites and facilities, a few hours ago, the powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran struck the US air base in Al-Udeid, Qatar,” Iran’s National Security Council said in a statement, adding that it used the same number of missiles as US did bombs during Operation Midnight Hammer.

In an official statement, the Iranian government confirmed its attack on US bases. “In response to the US aggressive and insolent action against Iran’s nuclear sites and facilities, a few hours ago, the powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran struck the US air base in Al-Udeid, Qatar,” Iran’s National Security Council said in a statement, adding that it used the same number of missiles as US did bombs during Operation Midnight Hammer. Qatar and others condemn attack: The Qatari government proceeded to condemn the attack, deeming it a “severe violation” of Qatari sovereignty, adding that Doha reserves the right to respond to the Iranian attack. However, it would later be learnt that Iran had informed Qatar of the attack targeting US bases in advance. Other nations such as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain also condemned the attack

The Qatari government proceeded to condemn the attack, deeming it a “severe violation” of Qatari sovereignty, adding that Doha reserves the right to respond to the Iranian attack. However, it would later be learnt that Iran had informed Qatar of the attack targeting US bases in advance. Other nations such as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain also condemned the attack Airlines rush to cancel, divert flights: Following the closure of the key Middle East airspace, airlines such as Air India and IndiGO announced that they will be diverting all flights to North America and Europe until further notice due to the ongoing situation. Qatar Airways also announced a temporary suspension of all flights amid the attacks.

Following the closure of the key Middle East airspace, airlines such as Air India and IndiGO announced that they will be diverting all flights to North America and Europe until further notice due to the ongoing situation. Qatar Airways also announced a temporary suspension of all flights amid the attacks. Sirens sounded in Bahrain and Iraq: Following the strikes on Doha, sirens were sounded in Bahrain and Iraq as well. Residents in both countries were urged to seek shelter.

Following the strikes on Doha, sirens were sounded in Bahrain and Iraq as well. Residents in both countries were urged to seek shelter. Trump announces ceasefire: Hours after the attack on Doha, US president Donald Trump took to Truth Social and announced an immediate ceasefire between Iran and Israel, brining an “end to the 12-day war.”

Hours after the attack on Doha, US president Donald Trump took to Truth Social and announced an immediate ceasefire between Iran and Israel, brining an “end to the 12-day war.” Blasts heard in Baghdad: Minutes after Trump’s announcement, blasts were heard across the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.

Minutes after Trump’s announcement, blasts were heard across the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. Iran denies ceasefire: A senior Iranian official told the Reuters news agency that Iran has agreed to the ceasefire after being persuaded by Qatar. However, Iran’s foreign minister has dismissed the claim and said “no agreement has been made as of now.”

A senior Iranian official told the Reuters news agency that Iran has agreed to the ceasefire after being persuaded by Qatar. However, Iran’s foreign minister has dismissed the claim and said “no agreement has been made as of now.” Israel stays silent: Furthermore, Israeli media reports suggested that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also on board to implement a truce, however, an official confirmation is awaited.

Iran and Israel have been engaged in a conflict for the past 12 days. Tensions escalated after Israel carried out strikes on Iranian military bases and nuclear sites under ‘Operation Rising Lion’.’ Since then, both nations have exchanged daily fire which has killed over 400 people in Iran and around 24 in Israel.

A Trump-brokered ceasefire is in place for now. But what really happened – and did any side emerge stronger from the conflict?

Since Sunday, Israel and Iran have lurched from escalating war to fragile ceasefire. A truce seems to be holding, and what US President Donald Trump called “The 12 Day War” between Israel and Iran seems to be over – for now.

Meanwhile, Trump, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iran’s leaders have all claimed that the pause in the conflict happened on their terms.

So, what’s the truth? What did Israel achieve? Did Iran manage to defend its strategic assets? And is the truce a pathway to peace?

How did events unfold?

Late on Saturday night, at Israel’s behest, the US entered the Israeli-Iranian war with strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, “completely obliterating” them, in Trump’s words.

On Monday, Iran struck back, firing missiles at the largest US airbase in the Middle East, Al Udeid in Qatar.

It appeared as though the Middle East was poised for a broader, longer war.

But within hours, Trump announced on Truth Social, his social media platform, “It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE.”

Trump called it “the 12 Day War … that could have gone on for years and destroyed the Middle East”.

Four hours after the ceasefire was supposed to take effect, Israel launched a strike against Iran in retaliation for what it said were two ballistic missiles entering its airspace, launched from Iran. Both were intercepted. Israel’s retaliation destroyed a radar station near Tehran.

Trump was furious. “I’m really unhappy that Israel went out this morning,” he told reporters.

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“We’ve got two countries that have been fighting so hard and for so long, that they don’t know what the f*** they’re doing.”

Iran said it did not fire those missiles. By 11:30 GMT the ceasefire was back in effect. Trump spoke to Netanyahu.

“ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

What did Israel achieve?

Israel has long claimed that Iran is its number one existential threat, but it has never before struck Tehran’s nuclear facilities.

On June 13, it crossed that red line, bombing the surface installations of the Natanz fuel enrichment plant and the Isfahan nuclear technological complex. Iran retaliated by launching drones and missiles at Israel.

Israel had struck nuclear installations in Syria and Iraq before, but it has now proved it can carry out a complex mission much further afield.

It also withstood international accusations that its mission wasn’t legal. Israel claims it was anticipatory self-defence, but not everyone agrees that Iran is developing a nuclear bomb, or that it planned to use it against Israel imminently.

“I speak with world leaders and they are very impressed by our determination and the achievements of our forces,” Netanyahu said on June 18.

Finally, Israel proved it can convince the US to enter a limited Middle Eastern offensive it has started. In previous wars in 1967 and 1973, the US had provided material support to Israel when it was attacked, but had not assisted it with direct operational involvement.

Netanyahu thanked Trump for “standing alongside us”.

Operation Rising Lion against Iran took place in the wake of conflicts that Israel has waged against Iran’s regional allies – the Houthis in Yemen, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hamas and Hezbollah have been weakened over the past two years.

Did Iran manage to defend its nuclear programme?

Israel managed to significantly damage surface targets in Iran, and the US claims to have destroyed underground nuclear facilities.

But while satellite photography shows that their missiles hit their mark, there is no independent confirmation available to verify what was destroyed. That will need on-site inspections.

“At this time, no one – including the IAEA – is in a position to have fully assessed the underground damage at Fordow,” said Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, on Monday, after the US strikes. “Given the explosive payload utilized, and the extreme vibration-sensitive nature of centrifuges, very significant damage is expected to have occurred,” he said.

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Also unknown are the whereabouts of 400 kilogrammes (880 pounds) of highly enriched uranium that the IAEA has said Iran now possesses.

Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation, suggested the nuclear programme would emerge unscathed. “Preparations for recovery had already been anticipated, and our plan is to prevent any interruption in production or services,” he said on Tuesday in a statement carried by the semi-official Mehr news agency.

Meanwhile, confusion lingers over the source of two ballistic missiles that hit Israel on Tuesday morning, three and a half hours after the ceasefire began. Iran’s government officially denied having launched the missiles.

So who did? And were they fired accidentally – like the Iranian missile that accidentally brought down a Ukrainian passenger plane in 2021, killing 176 people?

How likely is another strike on Iran?

What Israel and Iran have agreed to is a ceasefire. They haven’t made peace.

On Iran’s nuclear programme, experts say that there are – broadly speaking – two possible future paths.

Renewed UN inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities and a new treaty with Iran, perhaps resembling former US President Barack Obama’s Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action of 2015, might help Tehran ease global pressure on its programme, though it was Trump who pulled out of the JCPOA, not Iran.

This is where European powers can play a role. Three of them, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on June 20, along with the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, in an effort to avert US strikes. That bid failed, but although the EU cannot alone leverage Iran into a compromise, it can act as a counterpoint to US-Israeli hard power.

“Iran will try to involve the Europeans diplomatically by proposing enhanced monitoring and making commitments in its nuclear programme,” Ioannis Kotoulas, an adjunct lecturer in geopolitics at Athens University, told Al Jazeera.

“The US could accept a peaceful nuclear programme – [US Secretary of State Marco] Rubio has already said so. The likelihood is that the US won’t try to force regime change,” he said. “Europe is now Iran’s only way out. Russia is unreliable.”

But Israel has previously tried to scupper any nuclear deal between the West and Iran, and is unlikely to accept a fresh agreement.

And will Iran even be open to a compromise, after the US pulled out of its previous nuclear deal with Tehran, then changed goalposts during recent talks, and finally joined Israel in bombing Iranian nuclear facilities while they were supposed to be negotiating an agreement?

“That really depends on dynamics within the country and how any climbdown is phrased, but there have already been calls to cease uranium enrichment from activists within the country,” Ali Ansari, a professor of Iranian history at St Andrews University, told Al Jazeera.

So far, Iran sounds unyielding in the pursuit of its nuclear programme.

On Monday, the national security committee of Iran’s parliament approved a bill pushing for the full suspension of Tehran’s cooperation with the IAEA if approved in a plenary session.

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Meanwhile, Trump emphasised on Tuesday on social media that he would not allow Iran’s nuclear programme to resume.

If that fundamental tension remains intact, another round of strikes and counterstrikes that suck in the US might only be a matter of time.

The recent coordinated attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities by Israel and the United States have dramatically escalated tensions in the Middle East and reignited global debate over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

The strikes targeted key sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—facilities central to Iran’s uranium enrichment and nuclear research programs. However, the aftermath has been marked by sharply conflicting narratives from Washington, Jerusalem, and Tehran, each offering a different assessment of the operation’s effectiveness and its implications.

The Attacks: What Happened?

The escalation between Israel, Iran, and the United States in June 2025 unfolded through a series of major military operations, each with its own codename and strategic objectives.

Israel “Operation Rising Lion”

On June 13, 2025, Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion,” a meticulously coordinated air and missile campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and military command. Israeli forces struck deep inside Iran, involved precision airstrikes, drone swarms, and special forces targeting key nuclear infrastructure and military command.

In the first 24 hours of Operation, over 200 Israeli combat aircrafts, including F-15I, F-16I, and F-35I jets struck more than 100 targets across Iran, focusing on nuclear and military sites like Natanz and Isfahan.

The following two days saw additional waves of about 50 aircraft each, with repeated strikes on Natanz and other nuclear facilities. By June 15, Israel had hit over 250 targets and expanded attacks to Iranian oil, gas, and government infrastructure, reportedly including the Ministry of Intelligence in Tehran.

Prime Minister Netanyahu described the operation as a pre-emptive move to neutralize Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, citing existential threats to Israel.

Also Read: Israel ‘Operation Rising Lion’ means “Regime Change” in Iran

Iran “Operation True Promise 3”

In response to the Israeli assault, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched “Operation True Promise 3,” firing retaliatory missile and drone strikes at Israeli targets. These attacks aimed to demonstrate Iran’s capacity for rapid retaliation and to signal that it could strike back at both military and civilian infrastructure.

The codename “True Promise” was first used for Iran’s direct attack on Israel in April 2024, and six months later, Iran launched “Operation True Promise 2,” firing around 200 ballistic missiles at Israeli targets.

These targeted assaults, now known to have reached 22 distinct operational waves, dismantled key Israeli military, intelligence, and technological infrastructure, leading to a pressured halt in hostilities.

U.S. “Operation Midnight Hammer”

In the early hours of June 22, 2025, U.S. forces launched Operation Midnight Hammer, a major airstrike targeting Iran’s critical nuclear infrastructure. The operation aimed to significantly degrade Tehran’s uranium enrichment capabilities and delay any progress toward nuclear weaponization.

It marked the first combat use of the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), the U.S. military’s largest bunker-busting bomb, designed to penetrate deep underground facilities.

The strikes focused on three key nuclear sites in Iran:

Fordow Uranium Enrichment Plant: Situated about 260 feet underground inside a mountain near Qom, Fordow is one of Iran’s most fortified uranium enrichment facilities. The U.S. dropped twelve GBU-57 MOP bombs sequentially on two ventilation shafts to penetrate the mountain and damage the underground centrifuge halls.

Natanz Nuclear Facility: Iran’s primary uranium enrichment site, Natanz had already been damaged by Israeli strikes earlier in June. The U.S. dropped two MOP bombs on Natanz and launched Tomahawk cruise missiles to further degrade its enrichment infrastructure.

Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center: This complex includes uranium conversion plants, a chemical laboratory, centrifuge manufacturing, and fuel production facilities. Tomahawk missiles targeted Isfahan’s infrastructure to disrupt Iran’s nuclear fuel cycle and related activities.

Conflicting Claims and Confusion?

United States’s Claim: President Donald Trump declared the strikes “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities, asserting that the operation significantly set back Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Pentagon officials described the damage as “extremely severe,” emphasizing the unprecedented use of the MOP bombs.

On June 22, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated in a Pentagon press conference that it was “an incredible and overwhelming success.” General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the attacks were designed “to severely degrade Iran’s nuclear weapons capability” but declined to comment on what nuclear capability remained at the sites.

General Caine noted that battle damage assessments were still pending. The Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Tulsi Gabbard, has stated that Operation Midnight Hammer successfully destroyed Iran’s nuclear facilities, specifically referencing the Natanz, Fordow, and Esfahan sites. She criticized media reports suggesting the damage was less severe, claiming they were based on leaked classified assessments with “low confidence”. Gabbard also emphasized that rebuilding these facilities would take years.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe in a statement said that a “body of credible intelligence” indicates Iran’s nuclear program was severely damaged by US strikes. He stated that “This includes new intelligence from a historically reliable and accurate source/method that several key Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed and would have to be rebuilt over the course of years,”.

Also Read: Did Israel, U.S. Airstrikes Push Iran Toward Nuclear Weapons?

Iran’s Claim: Iranian authorities denied significant damage, claiming that sensitive materials and personnel had been evacuated beforehand. Tehran asserted that the attacks caused only superficial damage and vowed to rebuild and accelerate its nuclear program. Iran also launched retaliatory missile strikes against U.S. bases in the region.

On June 22, Israeli military officials told the New York Times that the Fordow nuclear site was heavily damaged but not destroyed. They also suggested Iran may have moved uranium stockpiles from the site before the attack. Regardless, it is unlikely that uranium enrichment will resume at Fordow in the near future.

Israel’s Claim: Israel welcomed the U.S. strikes as complementary to its own earlier Operation Rising Lion, which had targeted many of the same sites. However, Israeli experts expressed caution, noting that while the attacks damaged infrastructure, Iran’s deeply buried facilities and dispersed nuclear assets might limit the long-term impact.

Iran likely moved nuclear material out of Fordow before the attack, but June 19 Maxar satellite images show heavy activity consistent with defensive measures not material transport. Sixteen dump trucks were parked outside tunnel entrances, which were sealed with rock and sand before the U.S. strike.

IAEA’s Assessments

The IAEA recently reported that Iran had accumulated 400 kg of uranium enriched to 60%, enough for several nuclear weapons if further refined. This stockpile was last confirmed at Isfahan, likely in an underground facility, but its current location is unknown after the recent US and Israeli strikes. US Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that Iran still controls the uranium and said the administration will address the issue in the coming weeks.

The missing uranium poses a major proliferation risk, as Iran could potentially move it to covert sites for further enrichment, despite damage to its main facilities. International efforts are underway to locate and secure the material, highlighting ongoing concerns about Iran’s nuclear program.

The Stakes Moving Forward

The destruction of Iran’s nuclear facilities remains a contested narrative, with the U.S. administration, Israel, and Iran each advancing their own interpretations for strategic and domestic reasons. While the attacks have delayed Iran’s nuclear progress, they have not eliminated the program, and the region remains on edge as all sides prepare for the next phase of this enduring conflict.

The operation’s effectiveness is further clouded by Iran’s pre-strike preparations and the likelihood that some nuclear assets were preserved or relocated. This highlights the challenges of targeting deeply buried nuclear infrastructure and the persistent gap between political rhetoric and operational reality.

The strikes have further polarized the region, with Iran vowing retaliation and the U.S. and Israel warning of additional military action if Iran resumes enrichment activities.

Iran late Monday launched a retaliatory strike against US forces stationed at Qatar’s Al Udeid Airbase, America’s largest military installation in the Middle East, responding to a recent US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.

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Loud explosions were reported across Doha and Lusail, with missiles seen streaking across the night sky. In the immediate aftermath, Qatar shut down its airspace as a precaution.

A video from a Doha shopping mall showed scenes of panic, with people, including women and children, rushing to safety amid the chaos.

Poll Do you think recent missile strikes will lead to further escalation? Yes, tensions could rise further No, chances of de-escalation still exist

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council stated that its military used the same number of bombs as the US did in its strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

Tehran claimed it deliberately targeted areas away from Qatar’s urban centers, stressing that the operation posed no threat to its “friendly and brotherly” neighbour.

The missile barrage, dubbed “Annunciation of Victory” by Iran’s Tasnim news agency, was part of a wider retaliation that also included strikes on US bases in Iraq, according to a security source cited by the Associated Press.

Iran Launches Waves Of Missiles At Israel; 3 Killed In Beersheba, Several Injured In Direct Impact

Also Read:

The latest escalation followed Israeli strikes under Operation Rising Lion, which targeted Iran’s key nuclear facilities in Natanz. The US later joined the offensive, hitting three major sites: Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.

However, US President Donald Trump later announced a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran.

Iraq’s Taji Base Bombed With Drones; Radar System Damaged As Iran-Israel Agree For A Ceasefire

In a dramatic escalation of military tensions in the Middle East, Israel and the United States launched significant airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

We’ve put together a timeline of how things are unfolding, starting with Israel’s Operation ‘Rising Lion’.

Friday, June 13, 2025 – Operation ‘Rising Lion’

On June 13, Israel deployed over 200 fighter jets in a series of five coordinated airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear sites at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.

The Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, reportedly used drones to sabotage Iran’s air defenses ahead of the strikes.

Saturday/Sunday, June 21-22, 2025 – Operation Midnight Hammer

Following Israel’s actions, the United States initiated “Operation Midnight Hammer” on June 21-22.

Seven B-2 bombers flew 7,000 miles from Missouri to Iran, deploying 14 GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs, marking the first combat use of these powerful munitions.

Concurrently, a U.S. Navy submarine launched 24 Tomahawk missiles at Isfahan, resulting in significant damage to the targeted nuclear sites.

Monday, June 23, 2025

Israel hit Iranian government targets in Tehran, following the Trump administration’s airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites.

In retaliation, Iran fired ballistic missiles at U.S. bases in Qatar on June 23. However, Qatar’s defenses successfully intercepted the missiles, preventing casualties.

Despite the lack of immediate human loss, the incident has heightened tensions in the region, with global attention focused on the potential for further conflict.

We’ll keep adding and updating this timeline as we learn more.