Qatar’s condemnation comes as renewed U.S.-Iran attacks place Gulf states on alert and deepen concerns over U.S. military sites and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Qatar has strongly condemned what it described as renewed Iranian attacks on Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait, calling them a violation of the countries’ sovereignty and a breach of international law.

In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Doha stands in full solidarity with the sisterly nations and supports all measures taken to protect their security and sovereignty.

The ministry also underscored the importance of protecting the region from the consequences of unjustified aggression and called for de-escalation to restore both regional and international security.

How the latest escalation unfolded

The latest round has widened the impact beyond military sites, disrupting air travel in Kuwait, triggering air defence activity in Bahrain and Kuwait, and prompting a U.S. shelter warning for people in Jordan.

The U.S. military said the strikes were completed in about four hours and targeted military surveillance capabilities, communication systems and air defence sites across Iran in response to what it called Tehran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression”.

Iranian news agencies reported explosions in several areas, including Sirik, Kargan, Bandar Abbas, Minab, Karaj, and Varamin. Several explosions were also reported along Iran’s southern coastline and near western Tehran.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps later said it carried out counterattacks on 18 U.S. military targets at airbases in Kuwait and Bahrain, as well as the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain.

The IRGC also said it fired 12 ballistic missiles at the Al-Azraq airbase in Jordan for a second night running.

In Kuwait, authorities temporarily closed the country’s airspace as a precaution and diverted flights to alternative routes. Kuwait later reopened its airspace and said its main airport would resume operations.

Kuwait’s army also said its air defences were responding to missile and drone attacks, urging the public to follow official safety instructions.

In Bahrain, authorities said air defences intercepted Iranian aerial attacks. The Interior Ministry said an 11-year-old girl suffered minor injuries after debris from intercepted drones fell in residential areas, where vehicles and homes were also damaged.

In Jordan, the U.S. State Department warned people to seek shelter after reports of missiles, drones, or rockets in Jordanian airspace. 

Strait of Hormuz tensions

Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz deepened after Iran said it had closed the waterway and warned ships not to pass, while Iranian media claimed two U.S. ships had been fired on.

U.S. Central Command denied that any U.S. ships had been hit or that the strait was closed, saying commercial vessels were still moving through.

The renewed fighting has added further complexity to the status of the April ceasefire and raised the stakes for Gulf states hosting U.S. forces, as well as for regional air travel and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.