By Nouredine Omar | 2025-06-30

With its June 23 missile barrage on al-Udeid military base, the Iranian regime has jeopardized its relationship with Qatar, the Gulf states and other countries in the region, experts told Al-Fassel.

The attack was a political, diplomatic and military failure, they said, with 13 missiles shot down and another landing in a remote area.

The "unacceptable" attack has scarred Qatar's relationship with Iran, Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said June 24, pledging a "diplomatic and legal" response.

"This kind of neighborhood relationship should not be violated and should not be undermined,” he added, expressing hope that ties would return to normal.

"Iran has made a grave mistake by targeting al-Udeid US base on Qatari soil," Qatari international affairs researcher Mahmoud Abdel Moneim told Al-Fassel.

"Qatar was harmed by this targeting, as its airspace was closed, schools were shut down, thousands of students were blocked from their final exams, and fear and panic spread among citizens and residents," he said.

Abdel Moneim accused Iran of making "repeated mistakes."

"Currently, it needs to appease its neighboring countries, especially the Gulf states," he said, noting that its attack "will not only harm relations with Qatar, but with the entire Gulf bloc."

"Given the geographic proximity and Qatar’s involvement in Middle East peace plan, relations between the two countries will not be severed, and communication will continue, but not at the same pace as before," he said.

A flawed decision

Iran's attack on Qatar was "a total military failure," military expert and retired Qatari army officer Riyadh al-Ali told Al-Fassel.

"The attack was carried out using 14 missiles, of which the Qatari air defenses successfully shot down 13, while the final missile fell in a remote area without causing any damage," he said.

The decision to target al-Udeid was highly flawed, he added, noting that "the base is equipped with the latest air defense systems and features some of the world’s strongest and most advanced defense fortifications."

"Strengthening Qatar’s air defense capabilities is done with substantial US support through ongoing cooperation and communication between the Qatari Ministry of Defence and the US Central Command across all levels," he said.

Qatar's missile defense system has been significantly reinforced lately "based on confirmed intelligence about Iran’s missile program," he said, noting that Iran has acquired "a large and diverse arsenal of ballistic missiles and drones."

Iran's regime has deployed these weapons "not only on its own soil, but also in countries where it has proxies, such as Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon and previously Syria," he said.