Israel-Iran tensions: Iran attacks US bases in Qatar and Iraq

A scene cut from a video clip on social network X is said to show a missile attack on a Qatar airbase where US troops are stationed.

The announcement was made on Iranian state television. A caption playing military music on screen called the attack “a strong and successful response by the Iranian armed forces to the US aggression.” The attack came shortly after Qatar closed its airspace as a precaution amid threats from Iran.

A witness told Reuters that he heard several explosions in the Qatari capital Doha on June 23.

The US is monitoring multiple missiles fired by Iran toward its military facilities in Qatar and Iraq, according to CNN. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine are in the Situation Room. A senior official previously said the White House and Defense Department officials are monitoring potential threats to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. President Donald Trump toured the base last month, the first commander-in-chief to do so since 2003.

US Air Force members load boxes of humanitarian aid onto a plane at Al-Udeid Air Base, Qatar, March 2024. Photo: AP

Two officials familiar with the matter said the United States had detected signs that Iran was preparing to attack U.S. military facilities in the Middle East, including Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest U.S. base in the Middle East. The base serves as the forward headquarters for U.S. Central Command and is home to about 10,000 troops.

Iran said its missile attack on the air base in Qatar matched the number of bombs dropped by the US on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend, signaling a possible desire to de-escalate tensions. Iran said it targeted the base because it is outside a populated area.

Qatari Foreign Minister Majed al-Ansari's spokesman issued a statement saying that Qatar's air defense system “successfully thwarted the attack and intercepted the Iranian missiles,” and there were no casualties.

Qatar temporarily closes airspace

In the latest move, the Qatari Foreign Ministry announced on X that Qatar is temporarily closing its airspace. According to Reuters, this move is to ensure the safety of residents and tourists.

The closure of Qatar's airspace comes amid Iran's repeated threats to retaliate against the US following attacks on its nuclear facilities.

Iran arrests suspected spy for Israel

Iranian authorities have arrested a European citizen on suspicion of spying for Israel, Iranian state television reported, as fighting between the two sides entered its 11th day.

The TV station quoted judicial authorities as saying that the Israeli spy was arrested in Hamadan province. He disguised himself as a tourist and was tasked with creating a network, gathering information, and disrupting missile and attack systems in Iran.

Since Israel launched Operation "Lion Rising" in Iran, Iran has arrested dozens of spies from the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad.

Iran speeds up plan to find successor to Supreme Leader Khamenei

A three-member committee of Iran's top clerical body, appointed by Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei two years ago to find his replacement, is accelerating the process of planning a successor after Israel attacked Iran and threatened to assassinate the veteran leader.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Photo: Reuters

Mr Khamenei, 86, and his family are being protected by the Vali-ye Amr special forces unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

The new leader must be committed to the revolutionary principles of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, according to people close to Khamenei’s office and familiar with succession discussions. Iran’s top leaders are also weighing which candidate represents a more moderate stance that could prevent foreign attacks and internal rebellions.

According to insiders, the leading candidates in discussions are Mr. Mojtaba, 56, the son of Supreme Leader Khamenei, a long-time candidate for succession, and the new candidate, Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the father of the Islamic revolution.

Although he was a close ally of the reformists who favored loosening social and political restrictions, Khomeini was respected by senior clerics and the Revolutionary Guards because of his lineage. He has recently emerged as a candidate because, in the midst of conflicts with Israel and the United States, he could represent reconciliation internationally and domestically.

With military conflict continuing, it is unclear whether any new leader can be easily selected, safely appointed, or able to hold on to power.

NATO Secretary General says US airstrike on Iran does not violate international law

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stressed the importance of not allowing Iran to "possess, be capable of using and deploying nuclear weapons, and become a force that holds Israel, the entire region and other parts of the world at bay."

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Photo: Reuters

Air France suspends all flights to Tel Aviv until July 14

French national airline Air France has suspended all flights to Tel Aviv until July 14, citing security concerns as Iran and Israel continue to attack each other.

After assessing the “real situation,” the airline has decided to cancel all flights from Paris to Tel Aviv. Several flights to destinations in the Middle East have been canceled in the past two days. Today, Air France flights from Paris to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were canceled.

Air France said affected passengers will be given the option to postpone their flights or receive a refund.

The airline also stressed that it constantly monitors the geopolitical situation in the territories its aircraft fly over and serve to ensure the highest level of flight safety and security.

UK government advises citizens in Qatar to “shelter in place”

The British and US governments have advised their citizens in Qatar to stay put until further notice.

The warning came as Iran repeated its previous threat to retaliate against the US following attacks on its nuclear facilities.

The US and UK noted that the recommendation was "out of an abundance of caution" and did not provide any further information.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said the security situation in the country remains stable, adding that the embassy's advisory did not mention any specific threats. Qatar is ready to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of its citizens and residents, the spokesman said.

France condemns Israeli attack on Tehran's Evin prison

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has accused Israel of putting two French citizens at risk after an air strike hit the entrance to Tehran's Evin prison. Barrot stressed that all air strikes must stop immediately to pave the way for new diplomacy.

“The attack on Evin prison in Tehran has put our citizens Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who have been detained for three years, in danger. This is unacceptable,” Jean-Noel Barrot said on social network X.

Israel has attacked a Tehran prison holding several foreign nationals, in a move that shows it is expanding its targeting beyond military and nuclear sites, The Times of Israel reported.

BP and other companies withdraw staff from oil fields in Iraq

State-run Basra Oil said BP, Eni and TotalEnergies have begun evacuating foreign staff from Iraqi oil fields.

“Companies operating in Basra Oil fields have temporarily evacuated some foreign employees, in particular BP, which operates in the Rumaila field,” Basra Oil said in a statement.

Production from Iraq's southern oil fields remains unchanged, with exports averaging 3.32 million barrels per day, two oil officials told Reuters.

Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraqi armed group aligned with Iran, has warned it will continue to attack US troops in the region if the US intervenes in Iran.

BP has not yet commented.

Italy's Eni, which has a technical services contract at Iraq's Zubair oil and gas field, has cut its workforce from 260 to 98, adding that workers who remain in the country are working normally alongside local staff.

Eni has cut staff as a precautionary move and is monitoring the situation in the region, a spokesman said earlier.

France's TotalEnergies has evacuated 60% of its staff, but this has not affected its oil operations. TotalEnergies has not commented yet.

Basra Oil said work continued smoothly at the West Qurna/1, Siba and Faihaa fields managed by Chinese companies and there were no staff cuts.

Operations conducted by Russia's Lukoil are also unaffected.

Chevron and Shell, two companies also operating in Iraq, declined to comment.

MAI HUONG (synthesis)

* Please visit the International section to see related news and articles.

Source: https://baodaknong.vn/cang-thang-israel-iran-iran-tan-cong-can-cu-my-o-qatar-va-iraq-256478.html