Pentagon Confirms Iranian Missile Hit US Air Base In Qatar

JAKARTA - The Pentagon confirmed one ballistic missile that Iran fired last month hit US-owned Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

One Iranian ballistic missile hit Al Udeid Air Base on June 23, while another missile was intercepted by US and Qatar air defense systems, Pentagon Principal Spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement to Anadolu.

Parnell said the impact of the attack only caused minimal damage to equipment and buildings at the base, adding there were no injuries.

"Al Udeid Air Base remains fully operational and capable of carrying out its mission, with our partners from Qatar, to maintain security and stability in the region," he added.

Iran launched a series of missile attacks on the airbase marking a major escalation of the US dramatic tensions that attacked three Iranian nuclear sites on June 21.

Following the incident, US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees US troops in the region, said American forces and Qatar managed to defend against the attack.

The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Karyare, told reporters on June 26 attempt to fend off the attack was the largest single involvement of the Patriot system in US military history.

They said that the US military was also involved in protecting the installation with Qatar's Patriot air defense system crew. Although he did not mention the number of Patriot missiles launched, he said "a lot of metal flies around."