Explosions heard in Doha as tensions rise between Iran and the US

Explosions could be heard over Doha yesterday, shortly after Qatar, which hosts the biggest US base in the Middle East, suspended air traffic as Iran threatened retaliation for US strikes on its nuclear sites.

AFP journalists heard several rounds of blasts in central Doha and across the Qatari capital, with projectiles stopped by interceptors illuminating the night sky.

Gas-rich Qatar, which lies 190 kilometres (120 miles) south of Iran across the Gulf, is home to the United States' largest military base in the region, Al Udeid, which hosts the regional headquarters of the Pentagon's Central Command.

"The competent authorities announce the temporary suspension of air traffic in the country's airspace, as part of a set of precautionary measures taken based on developments in the region," the foreign ministry said. 

It added authorities were monitoring the situation "in coordination with regional and international partners".

Earlier, the US embassy in Qatar advised Americans there not to go out, with other Western embassies echoing the warning.

"Out of an abundance of caution we recommend American citizens shelter in place until further notice," the US embassy said on its website.

Britain and Canada later cited the US security alert in their own recommendations to nationals. 

Iran's armed forces threatened to inflict "serious, unpredictable consequences" on the US after it joined its ally Israel's campaign against the Islamic republic, carrying out heavy strikes on three nuclear sites.

Last week, dozens of US military aircraft were no longer on the tarmac at al-Udeid, according to satellite images published by Planet Labs PBC and analysed by AFP. 

Nearly 40 military aircraft - including transport planes like the Hercules C-130 and reconnaissance aircraft - were parked on the tarmac at the base, the regional headquarters of the Pentagon's Central Command, on June 5, but in an image taken on June 19, only three aircraft were visible.

In Bahrain, a close neighbour of Qatar that hosts the US Fifth Fleet, the American embassy "temporarily shifted a portion of its employees to local telework", it said on X.

Bahraini authorities had already told most government employees to work from home until further notice, citing "regional circumstances".

Following the US warning in Doha, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said such statements by foreign embassies "do not necessarily reflect the existence of specific or credible threats". 

"We would like to reassure the public that the security situation in the state remains stable," he wrote on X. "Qatar continues to exert intensive diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region."

On Sunday, the US State Department advised Americans worldwide to "exercise increased caution" because of the war between Israel and Iran.

After Israel's first strikes on Iran on June 13, the US embassy in Qatar had told its staff and other Americans to exercise caution and "limit non-essential travel to Al Udeid Air Base".

Meanwhile, global airlines had suspended or reduced flights in the Middle East as the conflict intensified.

Among the group of major airlines that have adjusted their flight schedule was Emirates. They have temporarily suspended flights to Iran and Iraq, which will affect passengers with connections to those countries via Dubai.

In a statement released yesterday, the airline said: "Due to the regional situation, Emirates has temporarily suspended all flights to Iran (Tehran) and Iraq (Baghdad and Basra), until and including Monday 30 June 2025.

"We are operating as scheduled to all other destinations. 

"Customers connecting through Dubai with final destinations in Iraq and Iran will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice."

British Airways cancelled flights between London's Heathrow Airport and Dubai and Doha on Sunday following the US strikes on Iran.

But the airline said yesterday that it was "scheduled to operate as normal" on those routes.

Air France halted flights to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates until at least today in a statement they released..

It also extended the suspension of the Paris-Tel Aviv route until July 14.

Flights of Air France's low-cost carrier Transavia from Paris to Beirut have been suspended until June 30, while the Tel Aviv route is closed until September 7.

Germany's Lufthansa Group, whose other airlines include Swiss, Austrian, and ITA, has suspended flights to the Middle East until June 30.

The Amman and Erbil, Iraq, routes were also suspended until July 11.

The group will not fly to Tel Aviv and Tehran until July 31, and is also avoiding the airspace of countries involved in the conflict.

Turkish airline Pegasus has scrapped flights to Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon until June 30, and Iran until July 30.

No Turkish Airlines flights to Baghdad, Damascus and Tehran are available before July 1.

United Airlines has warned passengers that flights to and from Dubai scheduled between June 18 and July 3 may be affected and was offering no-fee ticket changes under certain conditions due to the Middle East unrest.