Days after a single Iranian ballistic missile damaged the highly specialised AN/FPS-132 radar system at the key American air base in Qatar’s Al-Udeid, there were reports of a narrow escape for the military facility.
Iranian bombers headed for Al-Udeid, which is the largest base of the United States in the west Asian region, were shot down by Qatari jets when they were minutes from striking it on March 2.
According to an exclusive report byCNN, Qatari F-15s intercepted Iranian Su-24 bombers with minutes to spare in a high-stakes aerial combat in the ongoing West Asia conflict. The incident marked the first instance of air-to-air combat in the history of the Qatari air force.
The Qatari fighter jets successfully thwarted the attack, destroying two Iranian bombers. This was part of a series of retaliatory strikes from Iran after the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint Israel-US strikes.
TheCNNreported that sources, who were briefed on the operation, said the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) dispatched two Soviet-era Su-24 tactical bombers on the morning of March 2. The mission was aimed at two critical targets: the Al-Udeid Air Base, which serves as a hub for approximately 10,000 US service members, and Ras Laffan, a vital natural gas processing facility that forms the bedrock of the Qatari economy.
One source was quoted saying the Iranian jets were a mere “two minutes" away from their intended targets when they were finally engaged. The interception followed a tense sequence in the skies over the Persian Gulf.
TheCNNreport said the Iranian bombers were visually identified and photographed carrying an arsenal of bombs and guided munitions. In a clear attempt to penetrate regional defences, the jets descended to a flying altitude of just 80 feet to evade radar detection. Despite Qatari forces issuing radio warnings, there was no response, the report said.
The report said the wreckage of the Iranian aircraft crashed into Qatar’s territorial waters. During a briefing on March 3, Qatari foreign minister spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said a search operation is underway to locate the missing crews.
While Tehran has fired more than 400 ballistic missiles and 1,000 drones at Arab states in the Persian Gulf in retaliation for the US and Israeli strikes that killed Khamenei, this was the first time manned aircraft were used. Previous strikes have already proven lethal, including the missile strike on the radar “nerve centre" at the base and a projectile attack that killed six US service members at Kuwait’s Shuaiba port.
The Pentagon formally acknowledged the success of the defensive operation. “Qatari fighters for the first time have shot down two Iranian bombers on route to their location," General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was quoted in a briefing on Wednesday (March 4).
Source: World News in news18.com, World Latest News, World News
