Iran has launched an attack on a US military bases in Qatar. The announcement was made on state television, with a caption on the screen saying the move had been “a mighty and successful response by the armed forces of Iran to America’s aggression”. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on the social platform X: “We neither initiated the war nor sought it. But we will not leave the invasion to the great Iran without an answer.” Witnesses saw what appeared to be missiles in the sky over Qatar, the Associated Press reported.

It comes after the country closed its airspace in response to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, grounding flights in and out of the Gulf state. US forces struck three nuclear sites in Iran over the weekend, which prompted Tehran to launch a barrage of retaliatory ballistic missiles against Israel. There have also been fears that Iran could strike US bases in the region. A “credible Iranian threat” has been observed on Qatar, reports suggest, which hosts a large American airbase.

In a statement posted to social media on Monday, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “Qatari authorities announce the temporary suspension of air traffic in the country’s airspace, in order to ensure the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors.”

The Ain al-Assad base housing US troops in western Iraq was also targeted, an Iraqi security source, but Iran did not claim that attack, which could have been carried out by militias, the Associated Press reports.

PA reports that airlines are reviewing routes across the region, with some services rerouted or diverted mid-air.

Where are US bases in the Middle East?

The US maintains a presence at 19 sites in total across the region, with eight of those considered by analysts to have a permanent presence, according to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).

The US is believed to have around 40,000 troops in the Middle East, and has bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Turkey, Cyprus and the UAE, Iraq – where there were 2,500 US troops as of late last year, CNN reports – as well as Qatar.

There are also other sites where the US has a miltary presence.

Qatar is home to Al Udeid airbase, the largest US military installation in the Middle East, where around 8,000 American personnel are based, the US State Department details.

The base also hosts British forces.

No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group, part of the Royal Air Force (RAF), is headquartered at Al Udeid and leads UK air operations in the region.

Iran is understood to have depleted its medium-range missiles, which can travel up to 1,240 miles.

However, it retains short-range missiles that can travel up to 435 miles, and a number of US military bases are within this range, The Independent reports.

The Foreign Office today advised British nationals in Qatar to “shelter in place” following a US security alert.

Officials are advising against all travel to Iran, and is urging British nationals in the region to follow local guidance.

The Government has also updated its travel advice for Qatar, warning British nationals to shelter in place “out of an abundance of caution” following a US security alert in the country.

In updated guidance, it said: “Following a US security alert for US nationals in Qatar, out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that British nationals in Qatar shelter in place until further notice.

“Follow instructions from local authorities.

“The FCDO is in contact with local authorities and international partners, and will provide further updates as the situation develops.”