Israel carried out a strike against Hamas’ senior leadership on Tuesday in the Qatari capital, Doha, an Israeli and a U.S. official told NBC News.
Loud explosions were heard in the city, where Hamas stations its headquarters outside of Gaza. The strike on the American ally and leading mediator in international disputes, most recently between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, marks a significant escalation in Israel’s multifront conflict in the region.
The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet intelligence agency said in a statement on X that they had carried out “a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization.”
A senior Israeli official confirmed to NBC News that the IDF carried out a strike against Hamas leaders in Doha and that the joint statement was in fact in reference to the Qatar attack.
Eyewitnesses said they heard loud explosions in the capital, smoke was seen rising above the city, and the Qatari government condemned what it called a “cowardly Israeli attack” targeting Hamas’ headquarters.
“This criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms, and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar,” the Qatari government said in a statement.
It said “it will not tolerate this reckless and irresponsible Israeli behavior, which continuously undermines the region’s security, or any action targeting its security and sovereignty.”
The U.S. Embassy issued a shelter-in-place order for their facilities after “reports of missile strikes occurring in Doha.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
