Al Udeid Air Base

Al Udeid Air Base (Arabic: قاعدة العديد الجوية; also known as Abu Nakhlah Airport (مطار أبو نخلة)) is one of two military bases to the southwest of Doha, Qatar, in the municipality of Al Rayyan. It is the largest US military base in the Middle East, hosting approximately 10,000 military personnel as of 2026. It houses the Qatar Emiri Air Force, United States Air Force (USAF), United Kingdom Royal Air Force (RAF), and other foreign forces. It is host to a forward headquarters of U.S. Central Command, headquarters of the USAF Central Command, No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group RAF, and the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing of the USAF. In June 2017, the base hosted over 11,000 U.S. and Coalition anti-ISIL coalition forces and over 100 operational aircraft. On 23 June 2025, Iran launched missiles at the base, in retaliation for the 21 June strikes by the United States on Iranian nuclear facilities as part of the Iran–Israel war. Iran struck al-Udeid again during the 2026 Iran war. History United States Air Force Following joint military operations during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, Qatar and the United States concluded a Defense Cooperation Agreement that has been subsequently expanded. In 1996, Qatar built Al Udeid Air Base at a cost of more than $1 billion. The U.S. first used the then-secret base in late September 2001, when the U.S. Air Force (USAF) needed to get aircraft in position for its operations in Afghanistan. The U.S. has nearly 40,000 military personnel in the Middle East. The U.S. Fifth Fleet is in Bahrain and has 28,000 military personnel in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar. Kingdoms, including Qatar, cover 60 percent of the costs, around $650 million. Official acknowledgement of the base came in March 2002, when U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney stopped there during a trip to the region with a group of reporters. In April 2003, shortly after the start of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the U.S. Combat Air Operations Center for the Middle East moved from Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia to what was then a backup headquarters, built a year prior in Qatar that was viewed as a more congenial location for basing U.S. troops. Al Udeid and other facilities in Qatar serve as logistics, command, and basing hubs for the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations, and oversees U.S. air operations in countries, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. Royal Air Force Between 2004 and 2009 the airbase was used by the British Royal Air Force with transport and fast-jet aircraft to support Operation Telic (Iraq War) and Operation Herrick (War in Afghanistan). These included 6 to 8 Panavia Tornado GR4 aircraft drawn from different parts of the Royal Air Force as well as multiple Vickers VC10 from the No. 101 Squadron RAF. British Tornados were equipped with a range of stores, including the Vicon Recce Pod, LITENING targeting pod, 1000 lb HE bombs, Paveway II and Paveway III laser-guided bombs, and the RAPTOR Recce Pod. They were chosen for their currency and up-to-date modification state. The RAF aircraft were accompanied by aircraft engineers and personnel active in support and operation management roles. Between 20 March to 15 April 2003, the Al Udeid Wing of the RAF flew 268 sorties in operations against the Government of Saddam Hussein in Iraq at the start of the Iraq War. Royal Australian Air Force As part of Australia's contribution to coalition forces in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, 14 F/A-18 Hornet fighters from No. 75 Squadron RAAF were based at Al Udeid, along with two Lockheed P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft and three Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft. During the early phases of the war, the Hornets flew long missions escorting and protecting coalition AWACS early warning aircraft and tanker aircraft used for air-to-air refueling. Later, when the threat to coalition aircraft was reduced, the Hornets switched to ground attack and combat support roles and were used to attack Iraqi ground forces with laser-guided bombs. The Orions flew long endurance missions over the Persian Gulf tracking vessels, curbing smuggling, and guarding against the threat posed by suicide boats. The deployed Hercules flew supplies and equipment into Iraq, and later flew some of the first humanitarian aid into Baghdad. The 14 Royal Australian Air Force Hornets flew over 670 sorties during the war, including 350 combat sorties over Iraq. Iranian missile strikes On 23 June 2025, as a response to Operation Midnight Hammer by the USA, where nuclear facilities were targeted, Iran started missile strikes on the military base, shortly before 8 p.m. AST and after Qatar had closed its airspace. This was followed by explosions in Doha. Qatar said that there were no casualties and that all but one missile was intercepted. Iran said six missiles hit successfully. Satellite images by Planet Labs revealed the destruction of the white radome that contained American secure communication equipment. On 28 February 2026, during the 2026 Iran war, Iran attacked the base again. CBC News, citing the Canadian Department of National Defense's website, reported that Canadian soldiers were present at the time of the attack. Current use Qatari Emiri Air Force Al Udeid Air Base is the main headquarters for the Qatar Emiri Air Force, although some of its squadrons are based at Doha International Airport among others. Structure: Royal Air Force After the withdrawal of British Tornados and VC10s in Summer 2009 to other locations, Royal Air Force activities at Al Udeid were reduced. Since 2014 it has been used as HQ for British involvement in airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq (Operation Shader). The Royal Air Force formally stationed an RC-135 Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft at the base to operate over Iraq and Syria, although this aircraft has been pictured operating from Chania International Airport in Crete on occasion. United States Air Force Military cooperation and foreign assistance With its small territory and narrow population base, Qatar relies to a large degree on external cooperation and support for its security. Qatar invested over US$1 billion to construct the Al Udeid airfield during the 1990s; it did not have a large air force of its own at the time. The United States Army Corps of Engineers also awarded over $100 million in Military Construction Air Force (MCAF) contracts for the construction of U.S. storage, housing, service, command, and communication facilities. In early June 2017, the Pentagon said that the diplomatic rupture and tensions between Qatar and some of its Arab neighbors would not affect U.S. operations at the Air Base. In June 2019, the base stationed Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors for the first time. A month later, an expansion of the base was announced to be funded by Qatar, which would cost $1.8 billion. Congress appropriations and authorizations The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (P.L. 110-181) authorized $81.7 million in FY2008 spending to build new Air Force and Special Operations facilities in Qatar. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (P.L. 110-417) authorized $69.6 million in FY2009 spending to build new Air Force and Special Operations facilities. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (P.L. 111-84) authorized $117 million in FY2010 spending to build new Air Force recreational, dormitory, and other facilities at Al Udeid. See also Pizza Cat – Calico cat that resides in Al Udeid Air Base List of United States Air Force installations Notes References External links Media related to Al Udeid Air Base at Wikimedia Commons "Qatar: Background and U.S. Relations" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. "National Defense Authorization Act of 2009" (PDF). U.S. Federal Government. "Public Law 110-417. 110th Congress" (PDF). U.S. Federal Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2011. "CNN Special Report: Al Udeid Air Base". CNN. "RAAF over Iraq". Australian War Memorial.