Al Udeid, the U.S. airbase targeted by an Iranian missile strike on June 23, is the largest American military installation in the Middle East and serves as the regional headquarters of U.S. Central Command. The base hosts around 10,000 military personnel.
Al Udeid is equipped with a robust air defense system. The United States began using the base shortly after the September 11 attacks, deploying aircraft there for operations against the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Two years later, the base became the primary hub for U.S. air operations in the region.
It served as a command center for large-scale military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as for airstrikes on Islamic State positions in Syria. A wide range of aircraft have been stationed at the base—from advanced fighter jets and strategic bombers to drones, transport planes, and aerial refueling tankers.
In 2021, Al Udeid became a key evacuation point for tens of thousands of Afghans and Americans during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The Combined Air Operations Center located on the base coordinates U.S. air missions across a zone that spans 21 countries—from northeastern Africa to Central and South Asia.
Qatar, which viewed the United States as the main guarantor of its security, completed construction of the base in 1996 in hopes of facilitating the long-term presence of American forces on its soil. Over the past few decades, Doha has invested no less than $8 billion into its development. The base is used not only by U.S. forces but also by the British Royal Air Force as part of an expanded strategic partnership with Washington.
The modernization of Al Udeid enabled the deployment of key Pentagon command structures, including special operations units. For years, the base’s location was not officially disclosed—until 2013, when Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel lifted the veil of secrecy.
President Donald Trump visited Al Udeid last month as part of a four-day tour of Gulf countries. Speaking to service members from a stage in what resembled a campaign rally atmosphere, he discussed Qatar’s purchases of American weapons and shared a few of his favorite stories—including a recollection of his trip to Iraq during his first term.
"I don’t have anything better to do," Trump joked to the crowd, "so let’s just have some fun."