US opens new air defense operations cell at Qatar base that Iran targeted in retaliatory attack

The U.S. subject and its determination partners opened a caller aerial defence operations compartment successful Qatar to "enhance integrated aerial and rocket defense," U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Tuesday, arsenic tensions are escalating successful Iran. 

The compartment was opened astatine Al Udeid Air Base extracurricular of Doha – the aforesaid basal that Iran targeted successful a retaliatory onslaught past June pursuing U.S. strikes connected Tehran’s atomic facilities.  

The basal is location to 10,000 American forces and is the U.S.’s largest subject installation successful the Middle East. Located southwest of Doha, it serves arsenic a hub for logistical operations for the U.S. ngo to combat ISIS successful Iraq and Syria. 

"This is simply a important measurement guardant successful strengthening determination defence cooperation," Adm. Brad Cooper, commandant of CENTCOM, said successful a connection connected Tuesday. "This compartment volition amended however determination forces coordinate and stock aerial and rocket defence responsibilities crossed the Middle East."

FLASHBACK: IRAN ATTACKS US BASE IN QATAR, TRUMP THANKS TEHRAN FOR ADVANCE NOTICE AND ‘VERY WEAK RESPONSE’

U.S. and Qatari troops and unit await President Donald Trump astatine the Al Udeid Air Base southwest of Doha, Qatar, connected May 15, 2025. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

CENTCOM said the caller Middle Eastern Air Defense – Combined Defense Operations Cell is located successful the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) and is made up of unit from the U.S. and its determination partners. 

"The Qatar-based CAOC, established more than 20 years ago, presently includes representatives from 17 nations who coordinate the employment of subject aerial assets crossed the Middle East region," CENTCOM said. 

"U.S. Air Force Central work members volition enactment alongside determination counterparts... successful readying multinational exercises, conducting drills, and responding to contingencies," CENTCOM added. "The compartment volition also be liable for sharing accusation and menace warnings."

IRANIAN REGIME TARGETING STARLINK USERS IN BID TO SQUASH LEAKING PROTEST FOOTAGE

President Donald Trump gestures portion delivering remarks to U.S. troops during a sojourn to Al Udeid Air Base successful Doha, Qatar, connected May 15, 2025.  (Brian Snyder/Reuters)

A U.S. defence authoritative told Fox News Digital past twelvemonth that Iran had utilized short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles to onslaught Al Udeid, but nary casualties had been reported.   

"Iran has officially responded to our Obliteration of their Nuclear Facilities with a precise anemic response, which we expected, and person precise efficaciously countered. There person been 14 missiles fired — 13 were knocked down, and 1 was ‘set free,’ due to the fact that it was headed successful a nonthreatening direction," President Donald Trump wrote connected Truth Social astatine the time.

Soldiers utilized 2 Patriot rocket batteries to support Al Udeid Air Base successful Qatar from Iran's onslaught past year. 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

More than 2,000 radical person been killed successful the ongoing anti-government demonstrations successful Iran, according to an activistic group. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said Tuesday that 1,847 of the dormant were protesters and 135 were members of Iran’s information forces, The Associated Press reported. Other reports person the decease toll higher. 

Fox News’ Morgan Phillips, Jennifer Griffin and Liz Friden contributed to this report.