Voice of Urdu – International News in English & Urdu

Qatar Confirms Iran Strikes Hit US Military Facilities Not Civilians — AI-generated representative image: Formal diplomatic discussions between Iranian and Qatari officials regarding a document submitted to the ITU.

Editorial Team

Official Qatari ITU document cited by Tehran contradicts claims of civilian targeting

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, said on Thursday that the Qatari government has officially confirmed, in a document submitted to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), that Iran's strikes against American forces stationed on Qatari soil were directed toward US military facilities and that no civilian areas were targeted.

Baqaei made the remarks in a post on his X account, citing the Qatari document as evidence contradicting attempts to portray Iran's military actions as attacks on civilians.

The statement carries diplomatic weight because it draws on an official Qatari government filing rather than an Iranian assertion alone. By invoking a document submitted to an international body, Tehran is seeking to reframe the narrative around its military operations and counter allegations that its strikes endangered non-combatants.

The remarks also escalate an ongoing rhetorical dispute over the conduct of military operations in the region, contrasting Iran's described targeting discipline with what Tehran characterizes as a broader American record of civilian harm.

Key Claims in the Official Exchange

Baqaei stated that the Qatari government's document to the ITU confirms Iran's defensive strikes against American forces "were directed towards US military facilities" and that "no civilian areas have been targeted."

The Iranian spokesman acknowledged one exception raised by Qatar, an alleged attack against a gas facility on 18 March. He argued, however, that the facilities struck that day were serving US military aggression against Iran.

He further contrasted Iran's conduct with what he described as the United States' long record of deliberate attacks on civilian targets, including schools, hospitals, residential neighborhoods, wedding ceremonies, and bridges.

Background of Iran's Regional Strikes

Iran has repeatedly described its military operations against American forces in the region as defensive responses to what it calls US military aggression. Tehran has maintained that any facilities it strikes are linked to American military activity, a position now reinforced by the Qatari document cited by Baqaei.

The reference to the 18 March gas facility incident indicates that Qatar had flagged that particular strike as an exception to the otherwise military-focused targeting. Baqaei's response sought to place even that incident within the framework of legitimate military action by asserting the facility was supporting US operations against Iran.

The exchange also reflects longstanding tensions over the presence of American military personnel in Gulf states and the broader regional confrontation between Iran and the United States.

Official Statements and Document Details

Baqaei wrote that the Qatari government's official document to the ITU stated Iran's defensive strikes against American forces stationed on Qatari soil "were directed towards US military facilities" and that "no civilian areas have been targeted."

The spokesman added a pointed comparison, saying there is "a vast difference between a civilized nation that has learned the importance of adhering to moral and humanitarian principles even under the most distressing circumstances, and warmongering rulers who observe no rule of law or ethics in their projection of power."

He framed the Qatari filing as standing in stark contrast to what he called the United States' deliberate attacks on civilian targets.

What Comes Next

Baqaei's statement reflects Iran's latest effort to use an official third-party document to support its account of the strikes. No immediate response from Qatari or American officials was reported in the available information.

It remains to be seen whether the Qatari government or the ITU will publicly address the document's contents or offer further clarification on the claims raised by the Iranian spokesman.

Iran Vows Retaliation Many Times Over After US Strikes

Iranian armed forces pledge decisive military response to American attacks on Iranian territory and interests

news

Qatar PM Visits Tehran to Revive US-Iran Dialogue Talks

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to meet Iranian officials as regional powers push to de-escalate tensions and reopen Strait of Hormuz negotiations.