Iranian Bombers ‘2 Minutes’ From Major US Base Before Qatar F-15s Shot Them Down in First Air Combat

3 min readUpdated: Mar 6, 2026 11:17 AM As the US-Israel bound war on Iran escalates, attacks on Gulf nations have intnsified since. Qatar, which houses one of the largest US bases was minutes away from turning into rubble but was saved swift Qatari action Monday morning.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard had sent two tactical bombers, the Soviet-made SU-24, towards the al-Udeid Air Base and were “two minutes” away from their targets when a Qatari F-15 fighter jet engaged them in “aerial combat” before shooting them down.
This was the first time that Qatar engaged in an aerial combat mission. Sources say that the Iranian jets had switched to flying altitude to evade detection the radar system. They were classified as hostile aircrafts and were shot down into Qatar’s territorial waters.
A search is underway for the crews.
The al-Udeid Air Base, that hosts over 10,000 US service members, and Ras Laffan, an important natural gas processing plant.
‘No genuine desire’ to deescalate: Qatari Prime Miner
Qatar’s Prime Miner, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, spoke with Iranian Foreign Miner Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday, describing the event as an “escalatory” one. He said that the actions of Iran show that they have “no genuine desire” to de-escalate or resolve the issue.
“Rather, it seeks to inflict harm on its neighbors and drag them into a war that is not theirs,” Al Thani said, according to a readout of the call.
Iran’s attack on Middle East
Iran’s strikes to the Middle East comes after a joint operation US and Israel launched an attack on Iran and killed the country’s supreme leader Ayotollah Ali Khamenei. On Saturday, February 28, Israel launched a daylight strike on Tehran, targeting key military and strategic sites.Story continues below this ad
Since then, Iran has pledged to strike all US and Israeli bases across the Middle East.
On Tuesday, Iran stepped up its attack on Middle East — and launched a drone near the US consulate in Dubai. The Dubai Media Office later shared visuals informing the public that the fire had been extinguished.
According to regional governments, the Iranian regime has launched more than 400 ballic missiles and over 1,000 drones at Gulf nations following the US–Israeli strike.
Expand

The Express Global Desk at The Indian Express delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis.

A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students.

All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence.

Core Team

The Express Global Desk is led a team of experienced journals and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy:

Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership.

Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage.

Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. … Read More

Stay updated with the latest – Click here to follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd