Saturday, August 9, 2025
  • Who’sWho Africa AWARDS
  • About Time Africa Magazine
  • Contact Us
Time Africa Magazine
  • Home
  • Magazine
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • World News
    • US
    • UAE
    • Europe
    • UK
    • Israel-Hamas
    • Russia-Ukraine
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Column
  • Interviews
  • Special Report
No Result
View All Result
Time Africa Magazine
  • Home
  • Magazine
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • World News
    • US
    • UAE
    • Europe
    • UK
    • Israel-Hamas
    • Russia-Ukraine
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Column
  • Interviews
  • Special Report
No Result
View All Result
Time Africa Magazine
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • Magazine
  • World News

Home » News » Iran’s attack on Qatar is life-or-death brinkmanship

Iran’s attack on Qatar is life-or-death brinkmanship

The missile strikes on Doha show that the ayatollah is willing to expand the war beyond Israel’s borders | By DAVID BLAIR

June 24, 2025
in News
0
543
SHARES
4.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Of all the Gulf monarchies, Qatar’s supremely pragmatic rulers have carefully maintained the least poisonous relationship with Iran. Yet that counted for little on Monday as Iranian missiles streaked across the sky above the Qatari capital Doha.

Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have bitter experience of attack from Iranian-supplied missiles, usually launched by the Houthi rebels in Yemen. This was the first time that Qatar has ever been targeted – and that simple fact demonstrates a clear and dangerous Iranian decision to escalate.

For all his regime’s protestations that the strikes posed “no threat to brotherly Qatar”, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is signalling that Israel will no longer be the sole target of his arsenal. Now he is willing to strike regional neighbours as well, including a state that always tried to keep open its channels with Tehran.

From Khamenei’s perspective, this decision would have seemed entirely logical. Qatar hosts the United States’ biggest air base in the Middle East, known as Al-Udeid, which serves as the hub for all US and allied air operations in the region. This vital military asset is frequently used by the RAF as well as the US Air Force. For Khamenei, Al-Udeid will have been an obvious target for Iran’s retaliation for America’s assault on the nuclear plants

ReadAlso

Saudi Arabia Executes Seven Africans In One Day Over Drug-Related Offenses

Hamas orders starving hostage to dig his own grave

But escalation can be done in many different ways, and the signs are that this strike on Qatar was carefully calibrated. Like all the Gulf states, Qatar has sophisticated air defences and breaching them would have required a salvo of scores – even hundreds – of missiles. Instead, Iran claimed to have fired the same number of bombs as the US used against Iran, which in the case of the American strike on the country’s nuclear plants, was 14.

ADVERTISEMENT

That number of missiles would never have stood much chance against Qatar’s defences – as Iran must have anticipated. The Qatari authorities duly said there were no casualties in the attack, which suggests that many or possibly all of the incoming missiles were successfully intercepted.

Despite the alarming and unprecedented spectacle of explosions in the sky above Doha, this was probably not an all-out attack by Iran. Instead, Khamenei – whose forces even seem to have given advance warning to the US – appears to have chosen a calibrated escalation.

He will be hoping that the US interprets that signal correctly and refrains from landing a still heavier blow on Iran than the strike on the nuclear installations on Sunday. When Donald Trump responded by thanking Iran for its advance warning of a “very weak” retaliation, this suggested that the ayatollah’s message had been received and understood.

| The Telegraph |

Tags: Ayatollah Ali KhameneiDonald TrumpIranMiddle EastQatar
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

There is zero chance of China and Russia going to war for Iran

Next Post

Sahel region hardest-hit by terrorism worldwide, says Global Terrorism Index 2025

You MayAlso Like

News

Ex-Minister Audu Ogbeh Dies

August 9, 2025
News

1,600 exotic birds seized at Nigeria’s airport

August 8, 2025
News

Prince Harry cleared of ‘bullying’ in African charity row

August 8, 2025
News

Pzafaama Foundation distributed educational and welfare kits to 500 Less-Privileged Pupils

August 6, 2025
Defense chiefs from across Africa will gather in Abuja, Nigeria, in August for a summit to discuss developing homegrown capabilities in response to security issues ranging from terrorism to civil-military relations. LIBBY WEILER, AFRICOM PUBLIC AFFAIRS
News

Nigeria Will Host African Chiefs of Defense, Defense Contractors at Summit

August 5, 2025
News

DSCHC Trains Healthcare Facility Providers in Delta South on New Policy Alert

August 4, 2025
Next Post

Sahel region hardest-hit by terrorism worldwide, says Global Terrorism Index 2025

Wagner Group faces war crime accusations over posting atrocities on social media

Discussion about this post

Saudi Arabia Executes Seven Africans In One Day Over Drug-Related Offenses

Hamas orders starving hostage to dig his own grave

Dr. Ben Nwoye’s Hiatus and Return: Fear Grips the Ousted APC Leadership in Enugu

Key Ongoing Road Projects In Each Of The Six Geo-Political Zones

Ben Nwoye demands accountability, an end to political lawlessness in Enugu APC

‘Go to Hell’ – Trump tells Senate Minority Leader

  • British government apologizes to Peter Obi, as hired impostors, master manipulators on rampage abroad

    1239 shares
    Share 496 Tweet 310
  • Maids trafficked and sold to wealthy Saudis on black market

    1065 shares
    Share 426 Tweet 266
  • Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

    970 shares
    Share 388 Tweet 243
  • ‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

    903 shares
    Share 361 Tweet 226
  • Crisis echoes, fears grow in Amechi Awkunanaw in Enugu State

    735 shares
    Share 294 Tweet 184
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

British government apologizes to Peter Obi, as hired impostors, master manipulators on rampage abroad

April 13, 2023

Maids trafficked and sold to wealthy Saudis on black market

December 27, 2022
Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

September 22, 2023
‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

March 21, 2023
Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu, wife of Willie Obiano, former governor of Anambra state

NIGERIA: No, wife of Biafran warlord, Bianca Ojukwu lied – Ebele Obiano:

0

SOUTH AFRICA: TO LEAVE OR NOT TO LEAVE?

0
kelechi iheanacho

TOP SCORER: IHEANACHA

0
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

WHAT CAN’TBE TAKEN AWAY FROM JONATHAN

0

Nearly a Decade Later, Peter Obi’s Educational Legacy Resonates Beyond Borders

August 9, 2025

Ex-Minister Audu Ogbeh Dies

August 9, 2025

Ben Nwoye demands accountability, an end to political lawlessness in Enugu APC

August 8, 2025

“Enough of This Charade! Ugochukwu Agballa Is an Impostor—Court Says So”– Dr. Nwoye Unleashes Stinging Political Blitz

August 8, 2025

ABOUT US

Time Africa Magazine

TIME AFRICA MAGAZINE is an African Magazine with a culture of excellence; a magazine without peer. Nearly a third of its readers hold advanced degrees and include novelists, … READ MORE >>

SECTIONS

  • Aviation
  • Column
  • Crime
  • Europe
  • Featured
  • Gallery
  • Health
  • Interviews
  • Israel-Hamas
  • Lifestyle
  • Magazine
  • Middle-East
  • News
  • Politics
  • Press Release
  • Russia-Ukraine
  • Science
  • Special Report
  • Sports
  • TV/Radio
  • UAE
  • UK
  • US
  • World News

Useful Links

  • AllAfrica
  • Channel Africa
  • El Khabar
  • The Guardian
  • Cairo Live
  • Le Republicain
  • Magazine: 9771144975608
  • Subscribe to TIME AFRICA biweekly news magazine

    Enjoy handpicked stories from around African continent,
    delivered anywhere in the world

    Subscribe

    • About Time Africa Magazine
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • WHO’SWHO AWARDS

    © 2025 Time Africa Magazine - All Right Reserved. Time Africa is a trademark of Times Associates, registered in the U.S, & Nigeria. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
    • Politics
    • Column
    • Interviews
    • Gallery
    • Lifestyle
    • Special Report
    • Sports
    • TV/Radio
    • Aviation
    • Health
    • Science
    • World News

    © 2025 Time Africa Magazine - All Right Reserved. Time Africa is a trademark of Times Associates, registered in the U.S, & Nigeria. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.