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Israel has confirmed it carried out an airstrike targeting senior Hamas officials in Doha, Qatar, following a series of explosions in the Qatari capital on September 9. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), in coordination with the Shin Bet intelligence agency, stated the operation was aimed at individuals “directly responsible” for the October 7 attacks and ongoing hostilities against Israel.
The strike, dubbed “Operation Summit of Fire,” marks the first known Israeli military action on Qatari soil. According to reports, precision munitions were used to minimize civilian casualties, though the blasts occurred in residential areas housing members of Hamas’s political bureau.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack as a “cowardly” act and a “flagrant violation of international law,” asserting that it endangered civilians and undermined regional stability. The government also emphasized its role as a neutral mediator in ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
The incident has drawn criticism from several international actors, with calls for restraint and respect for diplomatic norms. The United Nations and multiple Arab states have expressed concern over the escalation and its potential impact on peace efforts in the region.
No official casualty figures have been released, and emergency services continue to assess damage in Doha’s Katara district. The U.S. Embassy in Qatar issued a shelter-in-place advisory following the strike.
