NI teacher saw missiles 'explode in sky' as Iran targets US Qatari base

A County Antrim man, who is teaching in Qatar, has described his shock as he sat in his apartment in Doha and felt his windows rattle after Iran launched missiles at a US military base.

Iran said the attack was in retaliation for American strikes against its nuclear sites over the weekend.

Kevin Donaghy, who is originally from Ballycastle, said he was "sitting watching the TV, then all of a sudden there were three loud bangs and the windows started to rattle".

He then went to the street to see what was happening and said "you could see the intercepting missiles being shot up into the sky".

"And some of them actually hitting and exploding in the sky – so there was a lot happening and a lot going on," he told BBC News NI.

"You could feel the explosions and you could actually then smell a really different type of smell as well."

Iranian missiles targeted the largest US military base in the Middle East, Al Udeid Air Base.

About 8,000 US citizens are based there, according to the State Department, and it is home to the US military's headquarters for all its air operations in the region.

Some British military personnel also serve at the base on rotation.

The Qatari government said no one had been killed or injured in the attack, and that the base had been evacuated beforehand.

Mr Donaghy said he was surprised the attack had happened "so early on in the evening time".

"I am just in my apartment at the moment, I know the American and British governments have said for everybody to take shelter, but really 'take shelter' is a stay at home order, so that's what most people are actually doing," he added.

"Whenever you look out the window, life does seem to be going on as normal, but whenever it [the attack] was actually happening, there were people running out of their houses looking up at the sky, wondering what was going on."

The UK government has lifted advice for its citizens in Qatar to shelter in place.

Ahead of the Iranian attack, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) had issued the warning "until further notice".

Mr Donaghy said he was in Qatar on an Irish passport, and was in "limbo" as to what would happen next.

"I know that nobody has been asked to evacuate yet, so people are waiting to see what the advice is going to be from the various governments," he said.

In a statement on Monday evening, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it is "advising all Irish citizens in Qatar to exercise caution, monitor local and international media, follow the advice of local authorities, and observe any additional security measures imposed during this time, including any orders to shelter in place".

"With airport disruptions anticipated in both Qatar and the UAE, Irish citizens are advised to contact their airline for updates prior to travel.

"Irish citizens in need of assistance should contact the Irish Embassy in Abu Dhabi at +971 495 8200 or call the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at +353 1 408 2527."

The department added that in "light of the current situation, Irish citizens in the region are encouraged to register on our citizens registration".

It also said it had updated its travel advice for Qatar.

The attack was first confirmed by Iranian state media, and later by the military.

A statement from the IRGC, the most powerful branch of the Iranian military, said that "Iran will not leave any attack on its sovereignty unanswered", and added: "US bases in the region are not strengths but vulnerabilities."

The US had previously warned Iran not to respond to its strikes on nuclear facilities and urged leaders in Tehran to agree to a diplomatic end to hostilities in the region.