N. Prabhakaran DUBAI: The Qatar Ministry of Defense has announced that it shot down two Su-24 fighter jets from Iran. Additionally, the Mini...
N. Prabhakaran
DUBAI: The Qatar Ministry of Defense has announced that it shot down two Su-24 fighter jets from Iran. Additionally, the Ministry stated that it intercepted seven ballistic missiles and five drones aimed at various parts of the country today. Qatar added that all missiles were destroyed before reaching their targets.
Against the backdrop of ongoing U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran and Iran’s subsequent retaliations across the Middle East, Qatar has announced that its air force successfully downed two Iranian warplanes.
According to a statement released by the Ministry of Defense on Monday, Qatar defended against two Su-24 aircraft, seven ballistic missiles, and five drones launched by Iran.
"Action was taken according to the operational plan as soon as the threat was detected. All missiles were destroyed before reaching their targets," the Ministry stated. Qatar condemned the attacks by Iran as "reckless and irresponsible," coming in response to U.S.-Israeli strikes that have reportedly killed hundreds across Iran since Saturday.
For several days, Iran has been launching a continuous barrage of missiles and drones toward various destinations in Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Al Jazeera reporter Zein Basravi, reporting from Doha, says that the downing of Iranian aircraft could lead to a "major military conflict." The fact that this three-day war is escalating into aerial combat makes the situation far more grave.
Iran has not yet responded to Qatar's statement. However, a spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry previously stated that the country has the right to defend itself "with all its might" in response to U.S.-Israeli attacks that reportedly killed leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran's attacks on American and Israeli targets have drawn widespread condemnation. In a joint statement, regional nations and the United States condemned Iran's missile and drone strikes, asserting they would take defensive measures to protect their sovereignty.
According to indications from QatarEnergy officials, LNG exports have been temporarily disrupted due to the conflict in the Persian Gulf. This could lead to an increase in fuel prices globally.
Although there has been no official response, pro-Iranian media outlets claim that Qatar's airspace was not violated. However, the Iranian Foreign Ministry reiterated that it would go to any length to protect its sovereignty.
Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have placed their air defense systems on high alert. U.S. Central Command is closely monitoring movements in the region.
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