US Central Command on Tuesday announced the opening of a new air defense “coordination cell” at its Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which Iran attacked back in June in response to US airstrikes on its nuclear facilities.
“The new Middle Eastern Air Defense – Combined Defense Operations Cell (MEAD-CDOC) is located in the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) and comprised of personnel from the United States and regional partners,” CENTCOM said in a press release.
The announcement comes as President Trump is threatening to bomb over protests inside the country, and Iranian officials are warning that US bases in the region could be targeted in response to any US attack. Trump brushed off the comments from Iranian officials when asked about the warnings on Tuesday.
“Iran said that the last time I blew them up with the nuclear capability, which they don’t have any longer, so Iran said that the last time. They better behave,” he said.
Before retaliating for the US airstrikes in June, Iran gave advanced warning that it would target Al Udeid, giving the US time to evacuate and time to prepare to intercept the missiles. At least one missile still got through, striking and destroying a communication dome.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine called the US defense of Al Udeid, which involved the use of Patriot air defense systems, the “largest single Patriot engagement in US military history.” A similar Iranian attack without any warning or multiple attacks on US bases in the region, of which there are many, could lead to significant US casualties.
