DOHA: In response to potential Iranian retaliation, the United States has evacuated its aircraft from the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
Satellite imagery indicates that, prior to the escalation between Israel and Iran, multiple aircraft were stationed at the base. However, recent images show the absence of any aircraft on the premises. US authorities confirmed to Reuters that the aircraft were taken out due to the perceived risk of Iranian attacks.
Anonymously, officials explained that these aircraft might have been targeted in Iranian retaliatory strikes.Furthermore, some US naval vessels in the region have also been repositioned away from the Middle East. The US Embassy in Qatar has also temporarily restricted access to Al Udeid Air Base for its personnel.
It’s important to note that Al Udeid, situated outside Doha, is the largest US military installation in the Middle East. Before the recent tensions, it housed numerous American aircraft.
Founded in 1996, the base is home to around 10,000 US troops and functions as CENTCOM’s forward command center, playing a crucial role in US military operations across Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.
