Middle East on Edge: Iran Hits U.S. Bases After Trump Orders Strikes on Nuclear Facilities

In a dramatic escalation of tensions in the Middle East, Iran launched missile strikes late Monday night on two U.S. military bases — Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and Ain al-Assad in Iraq — retaliating for Washington’s weekend bombing of key Iranian nuclear facilities.

The Iranian Supreme National Security Council declared the missile count matched the number of U.S. bombs dropped, signaling a strategic tit-for-tat meant to avoid further escalation.

The unprecedented U.S. airstrikes on Sunday, which targeted Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, marked a serious turning point, drawing America directly into the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.

Despite the gravity of the Iranian response, Qatari authorities confirmed no casualties at Al Udeid, home to U.S. Central Command’s forward operations. Iran claimed the location was chosen specifically for being away from civilian zones, hinting at a controlled act of retaliation rather than a full-blown war maneuver.

A Night of Fire Over Doha and Baghdad

Missile trails lit up the skies of Doha as residents looked on in alarm, with defense interceptors engaging at least one projectile mid-air. In Baghdad, a missile reportedly struck near the sprawling Ain al-Assad base, although no official U.S. military casualty reports have surfaced.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian took to social media platform X just moments before the attacks, declaring:

“We neither initiated the war nor seek it. But we will not leave invasion to the great Iran without answer.”

Iranian state television hailed the strikes as “a mighty and successful response to America’s aggression,” broadcasting martial music and triumphalist captions.

Israel Strikes Deep Inside Tehran

Meanwhile, Israel expanded its front in the ongoing conflict with Iran, launching bold new airstrikes in central Tehran. The most symbolic of these was the attack on the gates of the notorious Evin Prison — infamous for detaining political activists and dual nationals — and the headquarters of security forces that led crackdowns on anti-regime protests.

Though Iranian media shared footage showing apparent calm inside Evin, human rights groups voiced deep concern for prisoners' safety amid widespread power cuts and chaos in the Iranian capital.

As black smoke rose over Tehran, Iran’s internet connectivity suffered, further isolating the public. The Israeli military warned that strikes on military and symbolic regime targets in Tehran would continue “over the coming days.”

President Trump Escalates Rhetoric, Raises Regime Change Question

President Donald Trump, who ordered Sunday’s bunker-buster strike on Iran’s nuclear sites, posted a provocative message on his Truth Social platform:

“If the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later clarified that the president was “simply raising a question.” However, the statement drew sharp condemnation from Tehran, which said it would no longer engage in negotiations and warned of direct retaliation against U.S. interests.

Inside the U.S. Nuclear Strikes

The U.S. Department of Defense stated that Sunday’s bombing campaign — which saw the use of 30,000-pound bunker-buster munitions — was designed to neutralize Iran’s nuclear weapons potential.

Iran claimed it had preemptively removed nuclear materials from the targeted sites. Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency, confirmed Iran had communicated its intention to “protect nuclear material,” though it remains unclear whether any formal declaration was made.

Operation “True Promise 3”: Iran Hits Back at Israel

Continuing its multi-front campaign, Iran launched another barrage of missiles and drones on Monday targeting Tel Aviv, Haifa, and even Jerusalem. While no major injuries were reported, air defense systems were visibly active over Israeli cities.

Iran dubbed the assault “Operation True Promise 3,” a continuation of its retaliatory campaign. Human rights watchdogs reported that Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 950 people, including 380 civilians, since the war began.

Regional and Global Fallout

The sudden involvement of the United States has raised global fears of a much wider regional conflict. Russia condemned the U.S. and Israeli actions as “unprovoked aggression.” President Vladimir Putin met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, discussing ways to “de-escalate the crisis.”

Backed by Russia and sharing gas fields with Qatar, Iran’s next steps will likely determine the trajectory of this expanding conflict. With the Israel-Hamas war still raging and now American forces directly involved in Iran, the Middle East stands dangerously close to a full-scale multi-state war.

Also Read: Iran to Close 'Strait of Hormuz' After US Strikes: What It Means for Global Oil