Qatari air defenses intercept aerial projectile over Doha

By Mohammad Sio

ISTANBUL (AA) - Qatari air defense systems intercepted an aerial target over the capital Doha on Tuesday evening, according to local media.

The Qatar-based Al Jazeera television said air defenses shot down a projectile in the skies over Doha, with sounds of explosions heard in the capital.

No further details were immediately provided.

Earlier, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said that Qatar was not been part of the US-Israeli campaign against Tehran.

“We are exercising our right to self defense and deterring Iranian attacks against our country,” he added.

The Defense Ministry said Monday that its air defenses shot down two SU-24 aircraft and intercepted seven ballistic missiles and five drones launched toward the Gulf state.

Tension has escalated across the region when the US and Israel launched a large-scale attack Saturday against Iran, killing nearly 800 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Tehran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Gulf countries, which are home to US assets.