CNN: Qatari F-15s shoot down Iranian Su-24s near largest US base UPDATED

Iranian military aircraft were “two minutes” away from striking Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar—the largest US military base in the region—before they were shot down by Qatari F-15 Eagle fighter jets, CNN reports, citing two unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

On the morning of March 2, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) dispatched two Soviet-made Su-24 tactical bombers toward Al-Udeid Air Base, typically home to 10,000 US personnel, and Ras Laffan, a key natural gas processing facility central to Qatar’s economy.

According to one source, the Iranian jets were “two minutes” from reaching their targets. A second source told CNN that the aircraft were visually identified and photographed “carrying bombs and guided munitions.”

The source added that Qatari officials attempted to warn the pilots over the radio, but they did not respond; instead, they descended to an altitude of 24 meters to avoid radar detection.

Due to “time constraints” and “based on the available evidence,” the aircraft were “classified as hostile,” the second source said. Qatari jets were then scrambled, and a Qatari F-15 engaged the Iranian planes in “air combat,” ultimately shooting them down.

The Iranian jets crashed in Qatari territorial waters. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said at a briefing on March 3 that searches for the crews are ongoing.

In retaliation for US and Israeli airstrikes, Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Arab Gulf states. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the initial wave of attacks on February 28 when his Tehran residence came under heavy fire.

The daring operation in Qatar marks the first use of manned aircraft against a neighbouring country following Khamenei’s death and represents the first aerial engagement for the Qatari Air Force.

During a March 4 phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani called the incident “an escalation,” signalling Iran’s “lack of genuine intent” to de-escalate or seek a resolution.

“Rather, it seeks to inflict harm on its neighbours and drag them into a war that is not theirs,” Al Thani said, according to a transcript of his remarks.

By Jeyhun Aghazada