New satellite imagery has revealed that the primary command and control radar at the U.S. Al-Udeid Airbase in Qatar was destroyed by an Iranian missile during the June 23 attack.
Images made public this week show the complete destruction of the large, white radar dome that once stood prominently at the base. The revelation contradicts official claims made by U.S. authorities at the time, including President Donald Trump, who said only one of the 14 Iranian ballistic missiles launched that evening had reached the area—and that it had landed harmlessly in the desert.
Iran's missile barrage was in direct retaliation for the June 22 U.S. airstrikes that targeted three of Iran’s nuclear facilities, amid a 12-day war between Iran and Israel.
The incident mirrors a similar episode from January 8, 2020, when Iran launched ballistic missiles at Al Asad Airbase in Iraq following the U.S.-ordered assassination of General Qassem Soleimani. Then-President Trump initially claimed there were no casualties or damage, tweeting “all is well,” but satellite photos later revealed widespread destruction, including damage to at least five buildings. Over 100 American service members were later diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries, attributed either to the missile impacts or the resulting concussive blasts.
This week's revelation again calls into question the credibility of Trump’s response. Despite downplaying the June 23 incident as a “very weak response,” the satellite images suggest Iran successfully struck one of America’s most critical military installations in the region with precision.
While Trump appears hesitant to escalate further with Tehran—similar to his de-escalatory approach in 2020—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s three-day visit to Washington this week has reignited speculation. Some analysts suggest Trump may now be reconsidering, potentially backing another round of Israeli strikes on Iran in the near future, an action that will likely draw the U.S. into the conflict again.