In a swift move following Tehran’s missile strike on the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Gulf nations—Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait—have shut their airspace, triggering widespread flight disruptions.
What happened?
On June 23, 2025, Iran launched missiles at Al Udeid Air Base (home to CENTCOM and ~10,000 U.S. troops) in retaliation for American bombings of Iranian nuclear sites the previous weekend—Operation Midnight Hammer . Qatar’s air defenses intercepted all missiles; officials confirmed zero casualties or damage . Iran emphasized the number of missiles equaled the number of U.S. bombs dropped, signaling an intent to calibrate escalation .
2. Airspace shutdowns
Qatar promptly closed its airspace, citing escalating tensions . Bahrain and Kuwait followed suit, halting flights temporarily as regional flig
