The aircraft, two Su-24 tactical bombers, targeted two important locations: Al Udeid Air Base, home to about 10,000 U.S. troops, and the gas processing facility Ras Laffan.
An Iranian tactical bomber was just minutes away from attacking a U.S. military base when it was shot down by a Qatari aircraft, CNN reported.
The aircraft, two Su-24 tactical bombers, were apparently targeting two key locations in Qatar: Al Al Udeid Air Base, home to some 10,000 U.S. troops, and the gas processing facility Ras Laffan.
Sources told CNN that the aircraft, which were visually identified as “carrying bombs and guided munitions,” were flying at low altitude to avoid radar and did not respond to radio warnings.
The aircraft were classified as enemy aircraft and were shot down by Qatari F-15 fighter jets just “two minutes” from their target.
CNN noted that the operation marked the first time the Qatari Air Force had participated in air-to-air combat, adding that it was unusual for Iran to use manned aircraft rather than missiles or drones for the attack.
Qatar accuses Iran of trying to draw it into war
In a phone call between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani on Wednesday, the Qatari Prime Minister described the attack as one of several targeted by Iran.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said of the call in a post on
The foreign ministry also said the prime minister invoked Qatar’s right to self-defence, while saying “such attacks cannot go unanswered.”