Doha, Qatar – The U.S. Embassy in Qatar has advised American citizens to shelter in place until further notice after the weekend’s attacks on Iran. The warning comes after Qatar temporarily closed its airspace in response to growing tensions in the region.
The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying the country had suspended air traffic to ensure the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors. The ministry emphasized that it would take necessary preventive measures to protect everyone in the country. Officials also promised to keep the public informed as the situation develops.
U.S. Embassy Cautions Americans in Qatar
The U.S. Embassy’s advisory was issued out of caution, with no specific details shared about the nature of the threat. Qatar is home to the Al Udeid Air Base, where around 10,000 U.S. soldiers are deployed, heightening concerns about potential security risks. Following the embassy’s advisory, the UK Embassy in Qatar issued a similar warning for British citizens.
The advisory follows a State Department warning issued on Sunday, urging Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution. The State Department specifically warned about the potential for demonstrations targeting U.S. citizens and interests abroad.
Escalating Tensions After U.S. Strikes on Iran
The heightened security measures come after U.S. B-2 bombers dropped 14 bunker-buster bombs on three Iranian nuclear sites, escalating tensions in the region. Iran has vowed to retaliate against U.S. interests and military forces.
In a statement, Abdolrahim Mousavi, the newly appointed chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, warned the U.S., saying, “The criminal U.S. must know that in addition to punishing its illegitimate and aggressive offspring, the hands of Islam’s fighters within the armed forces have been freed to take any action against its interests and military. We will never back down in this regard.”
Qatar’s Stance on Security
Qatar’s foreign affairs spokesperson assured the public that the security situation in the country remains stable, despite the regional tensions. The spokesperson noted that the advisories from foreign embassies did not reflect any specific threats against Qatar itself. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and are prepared to take any necessary actions to ensure the safety of everyone in the country.
Qatar, which has carefully balanced friendly relations with its neighbor Iran and the West, has become a key player in the Middle East. It hosts 40,000 U.S. troops stationed across the region.
Wider Regional Impact and U.S. Concerns
While Iran is expected to retaliate against the U.S. after the bombings, Israeli airstrikes have already taken out several of Iran’s missile launchers, depleting the country’s stock of medium-range missiles.
Meanwhile, the U.S. homeland remains under a “heightened threat environment” following the weekend strikes. The U.S. faces a potential increase in cyberattacks from pro-Iranian hacktivists and Iranian-affiliated cyber actors targeting U.S. networks.