Explosions rang out across Doha on Tuesday, 9 September 2025, with no official word at first on what had caused them. Israel then confirmed it had hit Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital.
The Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) issued a joint statement that did not name Doha. They described “a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization,” and said those leaders had run the group’s operations for years and were directly responsible for the 7 October massacre. Measures were taken beforehand to reduce harm to civilians, the statement said, including precise munitions and additional intelligence.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu followed with his own statement. “Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility,” he said, calling it a wholly independent Israeli operation.
Qatar’s response
Qatar condemned the attack and confirmed Hamas was the target, the Times of Israel reported. Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said the strike “targeted residential buildings housing several members of the Political Bureau of Hamas.” He called it a “criminal assault” and a “blatant violation of all international laws and norms” that posed a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar.
Why Doha mattered
Until this strike, Israel had held back from acting against Hamas leaders in Qatar. The country hosts the American air base at Al Udeid, headquarters of U.S. Central Command, and in 2022 President Joe Biden designated Qatar a “major non-NATO ally.” President Donald Trump visited Al Udeid in May. Qatar also works with Egypt as a mediator between Israel and Hamas in talks over the release of Israeli hostages.
Breitbart News noted that the attack looked like an embarrassment for Qatar, which claimed in June to have shot down Iranian missiles as a showcase for its air defenses. A source told the outlet that the U.S. likely approved the strike and that Qatar had probably been informed of it, despite appearances.
