Satellite photographs reveal that an Iranian missile strike on a US airbase in Qatar destroyed a crucial communications dome, yet amid escalating regional tensions, operations continued and no casualties were reported.
Based on a study of satellite pictures and official comments, the Associated Press reported that a geodesic dome used by the US military for secure satellite communications was destroyed on June 23 by an Iranian ballistic missile strike on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The installation, which lies outside of Doha, serves as the forward headquarters for the US Central Command and is essential to regional military activities.
Installed in 2016, the USD 15 million dome enabled cutting-edge satellite communications. The majority of the base was undamaged, however some surrounding structures were slightly damaged.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell acknowledged that a missile had hit the radome after the story was released, but he said that the damage was minor and that base operations were unaffected. He declared, “Al Udeid is still fully operational.” During the recent 12-day Iran-Israel war, the United States bombed three Iranian nuclear sites, prompting the strike.
US President Donald Trump claims that Iran warned of the strike in advance, enabling the defenses of the US and Qatar to get ready. According to Trump, 13 Iranian missiles were intercepted, 14 were launched, and one was permitted to strike a “nonthreatening” target.
Trump posted on Truth Social, “I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured.”
Iran has claimed that the base was “smashed” and that its communications were “cut off,” but no US servicemen were hurt. Although the dome’s damage is confirmed by satellite photographs, the rest of the complex appears to be operating regularly.
A truce mediated by the US shortly after the attack defused tensions and avoided a larger regional confrontation.
