DOHA — Qatar temporarily suspended all air traffic on Monday and several Western embassies advised foreign nationals to shelter in place after Iran threatened retaliation for recent U.S. strikes on its nuclear facilities.
The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the move as a precautionary measure due to rising regional tensions, particularly after Iran vowed “serious, unpredictable consequences” for the U.S. following its involvement in attacks alongside Israel.
Qatar, just 190 kilometers from Iran across the Gulf, is home to the U.S.’s largest military base in the region — Al Udeid Air Base — which could be a potential target in the ongoing conflict.
The U.S. Embassy in Doha was among the first to urge Americans to stay indoors, followed by similar advisories from the UK and Canada. Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain also moved part of its staff to remote work due to safety concerns.
Despite the warnings, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari stressed there were no specific threats and reassured the public that security remained stable. He added that Qatar continues to push for diplomatic de-escalation.