US opens 'air defence coordination cell' in Qatar as Iran tensions rise Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 01/13/2026 - 16:49 Qatar was attacked by both Israel and Iran. It could be in crosshairs again as Trump weighs a fresh attack on Islamic Republic A US Army Terminal High Altitude Area Defense launching station positioned in Israel, on 4 March 2019 (Cory Payne/AFP) Off The US and Qatar announced the opening of a new centre to coordinate air and missile defence at al-Udeid air base, as the Trump administration weighs intervening in Iran . Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of Central Command, or Centcom, said the new centre was a “significant step forward” in the US's coordination of air defence. According to a statement on Tuesday, 17 countries are active at the facility in Qatar. The US has for years been trying to deepen air defence cooperation among its regional partners with an eye towards Iran in a so-called "Middle East Nato". However, the US’s position as security guarantor for the region was undermined by Israel's September attack on Hamas negotiators in Doha, analysts and officials in the region say . Middle East Eye reported at the time that Trump was aware of the Israeli attack beforehand. Details of the operation are still murky, but The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel launched missiles at Doha with planes flying over the Red Sea. The Trump administration denied it had advanced warning of the attack, but Doha is home to al-Udeid, the US’s largest military base in the Middle East. The presence of the new air defence coordination cell underscores how Qatar is a linchpin in the US’s broader network of air defence systems and early warning technology. In response to the attack, Qatar sought further US security guarantees. Trump issued an executive order that equates an attack on the small, gas-rich Gulf state to be an attack on the US. Not to be outdone, Saudi Arabia sought its own US security pledge during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington in November. The Trump administration is eyeing major arms deals with both countries, and MEE reported in December that it is reviewing Israel’s "Qualitative Military Edge" - a term that enshrines Israel's military superiority over its Arab and Muslim neighbours in American defence sales. Iran strikes looming The announcement of a new cell to coordinate air defence comes as the US weighs potential military strikes on Iran amid escalating, and deadly, protests there. Trump on Tuesday called on protestors to “take over” government institutions and said that “HELP IS ON ITS WAY” in a social media post. Qatar could be caught between both sides in an escalation. It is the only country in the region to have been attacked by both Israel and Iran. US asked Saudi Arabia to send missile interceptors to Israel during Iran conflict. Riyadh refused Read More » Iran launched strikes on al-Udeid in June in response to the US’s bombing of its nuclear sites. Officials and analysts saw the Iranian strikes as largely deescalatory, with the US being warned to evacuate the base. Doha and Tehran share the world’s largest natural gas field and have kept cordial relations. Qatar and Oman have served as mediators between the US and Iran. At one time, Israeli military personnel were deployed at al-Udeid. It is unclear whether they are still stationed at the base. Israel has faced backlash over its genocide in Gaza and attacks on Syria, Lebanon and Iran. Except for the UAE, efforts to deepen Israeli ties to Gulf states have stalled, particularly with Saudi Arabia. When Israel was under an Iranian ballistic missile attack, the US asked Saudi Arabia to provide interceptors for its defence, but Riyadh refused, MEE reported . Inside Qatar News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0