The Pentagon has admitted that an Iranian missile hit a communications dome at the US’s Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar during Iran’s attack that came in response to the US bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The admission from Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell came after satellite images first revealed the damage. The images show that the dome was completely destroyed, though Parnell downplayed the strike, saying the missile “did minimal damage to equipment and structures on the base.”
“Al Udeid Air Base remains fully operational and capable of conducting its mission, alongside our Qatari partners, to provide security and stability in the region,” Parnell added.
The Pentagon initially did not report any damage to the base. According to The Associated Press, the communications dome, known as a modernized enterprise terminal, was installed in 2016 and was worth $15 million.
Iran gave the US notice that the attack was coming, allowing the US to evacuate personnel to avoid casualties. “I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social following the Iranian missile barrage.
While Iran gave the US warning to repel the attack, the US military had to conduct its largest-ever Patriot missile defense system engagement to intercept the missiles, according to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine. “We believe that this is the largest single Patriot engagement in US military history, and we were joined in this engagement by the Qatari Patriot crews,” Caine told reporters.
