2 min readUpdated: Mar 6, 2026 11:04 AM IST

In its first ever aerial combat mission, the Qatari F-15 swung and took down two Iranian bombers, which were just two minutes away from attacking the largest US military base in the Middle East, CNN reported.

The target of the Iranian bombers was the al-Udeid Air Base, that hosts over 10,000 US service members, and Ras Laffan, an important natural gas processing plant.

Here’s how the event unfolded

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard had sent two tactical bombers, the Soviet-made SU-24, towards the al-Udeid Air Base Monday morning. The Iranian jets were just minutes away from their targets when a Qatari F-15 fighter jet shot down the Iranian jets.

The jets were carrying “bombs and guided munitions,” a source familiar with the incident told CNN.

The Iranian jets had switched to flying altitude to evade detection by the radar system. The jets, however, were classified as hostile aircraft due to time constraints, and the Qatari F-15 fighter jets went into “aerial combat” with the Iranian jets, shooting them down into Qatar’s territorial waters.

A search is underway for the crews.

‘No genuine desire’ to deescalate: Qatari Prime Minister

Qatar’s Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday, describing the event as an “escalatory” one. He said that the actions of Iran show that they have “no genuine desire” to de-escalate or resolve the issue.

“Rather, it seeks to inflict harm on its neighbors and drag them into a war that is not theirs,” Al Thani said, according to a readout of the call.

Story continues below this ad

Iran’s attack on Middle East

Iran’s strikes to the Middle East comes after a joint operation by US and Israel launched an attack on Iran and killed the country’s supreme leader Ayotollah Ali Khamenei. Since then, Iran has pledged to strike all US and Israeli bases across the Middle East.

According to regional governments, the Iranian regime has launched more than 400 ballistic missiles and over 1,000 drones at Gulf nations following the US–Israeli strike.

(With inputs from CNN)

The Express Global Desk at The Indian Express delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. … Read More

Stay updated with the latest – Click here to follow us on Instagram

© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd