Qatar credits US alliance for repelling attacks from Iran

Qatar has said its strategic defence partnership with the United States has played a key role in safeguarding the country amid reported attacks linked to Iran, according to remarks from the foreign ministry.

Majid bin Mohammed al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that close security cooperation with Washington has been instrumental in protecting the country’s resources during periods of heightened regional tension, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

He added that Qatari armed forces successfully thwarted around 90% of the attacks, arguing that this demonstrated Qatar is “not an easy target”.

Since the escalation on February 28, 2026, Qatar has faced limited but significant indirect damage from the wider Iran–Israel–U.S. conflict. Iranian missile and drone strikes in the early phase of retaliation targeted the U.S. Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, but Qatari air defences intercepted incoming projectiles, preventing major destruction and avoiding confirmed civilian casualties.

However, falling debris and heightened alerts disrupted daily life and briefly affected civilian movement and air traffic. 

The more consequential impact has been economic and strategic: a strike on energy infrastructure at Ras Laffan caused disruptions to liquefied natural gas operations, forcing temporary shutdowns and prompting concerns over long-term export capacity and revenues.

In response, Qatar has tightened security around key assets, while the broader regional instability has increased insurance costs, raised investor caution, and placed pressure on its economic outlook despite avoiding direct large-scale physical destruction.

By Aghakazim Guliyev