President Donald Trump suggested that Iran may be ready to de-escalate following its missile strike on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, a key U.S. military installation in the Middle East. The attack marked Iran’s first major retaliation to the U.S. bombing of its nuclear facilities on June 21, part of the Pentagon’s “Operation Midnight Hammer.”
According to U.S. defense officials, Iran launched a volley of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles at the sprawling air base, which hosts approximately 10,000 U.S. troops and serves as the command hub for air operations across the region. Trump later said in a social media post that 13 of the 14 missiles were intercepted, with the one that landed causing “hardly any damage.” No U.S. casualties were reported.
Sources indicate the base had been largely evacuated ahead of the attack, and Iran gave advance notice — a move seen as a signal to avoid further escalation. The Qatari military played a significant role in intercepting the missiles, according to U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity.
In his statement, Trump described the strike as Iran “getting it out of their system,” implying that Tehran’s retaliation may be more symbolic than strategic. “They got it all out,” Trump said, suggesting the incident could mark an informal end to the current phase of hostilities.
Still, uncertainty remains. With over 40,000 U.S. troops spread across various bases in the region, Iran retains the missile capability to target any of them, according to another senior official. But the same source echoed Trump’s assessment, suggesting that Tehran may now choose to stand down.
Iran’s missile strike follows two weeks of intensive Israeli military operations targeting Iran’s air defense systems. On June 21, U.S. forces joined the offensive, using advanced bunker-buster bombs to hit nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. A full damage assessment is ongoing, said Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, adding that it may take time to determine the exact impact on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Military analyst Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution said Iran’s strike appears to be a calculated response meant to preserve domestic credibility without escalating the conflict. “Iran is signaling a desire to save face while deescalating,” he said. “It would be wise for the U.S. to wait and assess, especially as the extent of the damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities is still unclear.”
This is not the first time Trump has opted against escalation in the face of Iranian retaliation. In 2020, following the U.S. drone strike that killed Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, Iran attacked Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, injuring more than 100 U.S. personnel. Trump downplayed that response and chose not to retaliate further.
The recent events suggest that Trump may once again favor restraint over prolonged conflict — a stance echoed in his measured response to the Al Udeid attack. Whether this leads to a lasting ceasefire or merely a pause in a broader confrontation remains to be seen.