Al Udeid stands as the largest American military installation in the Middle East, with two 12,000-foot runways stretching into the Qatari desert and nearly 8,000 US troops stationed at the base.
The facility houses strategic bombers, tankers and surveillance assets, with its extensive, well-maintained runways enabling rapid deployment capabilities.
The operational hub, which supports US military activities across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, was attacked earlier tonight by Iranian retaliatory strikes after Sunday morning's bombing raid.
However, satellite footage from last week showed the US relocating dozens of aircraft from the base after Israel’s assault on Iran.
As many as 40 US military aircraft vanished, leaving the US fleet at the base down to just three by June 19.
Following tonight's strikes, Qatari officials stated that no deaths had been recorded, with Al Udeid Air Base hosting CENTCOM's forward headquarters.
In a statement, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that "Iran will not leave any attack on its sovereignty unanswered".
The most powerful branch of the Iranian military added: "US bases in the region are not strengths but vulnerabilities."
Al Udeid Air Base is the largest American installation in the Middle East
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The US also confirmed Tehran had launched an attack on the base, revealing that Al Udeid was attacked by "short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles originating from Iran today".
The base is also home to British personnel from the RAF's No83 Expeditionary Air Group
Estimates suggested that nearly 400 RAF personnel were stationed at the Qatar-based base between 2005 and 2009, including 130 who were direct aircraft engineers.
The RAF utilised the base in its Operation Shadder strikes against the jihadist terror group Isis.
Traces are seen in the sky after Iran's armed forces say they targeted The Al-Udeid base in a missile attackREUTERSDetailing the RAF's responsibility at the base, the House of Commons Library said last year: "Following a re-organisation of the command structure in mid-2023, the commanding officer of 83 EAG is responsible for four expeditionary air wings.
"In 2018, the RAF stood up its first joint squadron since the end of the Second World War, with the Qatari Air Force.
"Twelve Squadron was initially based in Qatar before moving to RAF Coningsby in March 2023 for a two-year period until 2025.
"The joint squadron is part of the preparations for the Qatari Air Force to begin flying Typhoon aircraft."
Approximate locations of US military bases in the Middle East
AMERICAN SECURITY PROJECT
Qatar has invested more than £6.3billion in upgrading Al Udeid's infrastructure in recent years, including £1.1billion on troop housing and airfield improvements.
The US State Department recently approved Qatar's purchase of eight MQ-9B Predator drones, valued at nearly £1.6billion, including advanced munitions and equipment.
Britain has maintained a significant RAF presence at Al Udeid since establishing a permanent base there in the early 2000s.
The facility became crucial for British air operations when selected in 2005 to support missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The deployment included six to eight Tornado gunships and Vickers VC-10s from No. 101 Squadron.
Squadron personnel operated on two-month rotations, whilst the base's infrastructure included "South Crown" buildings and canvas shelters housing aircraft.
Despite tonight's strikes, no US aircraft based at Al Udeid had been used in the strikes against Iranian nuclear targets on Sunday.
Qatar blocked the US from using the base to launch strikes on its Middle East neighbour, with Doha and Tehran long maintaining close relations.
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