Doha, March 18 — Qatar’s Ministry of Defence announced on X that the country’s armed forces intercepted a missile that had targeted the state. The brief statement did not identify the origin of the projectile.
The interception took place as Gulf countries remain on heightened alert. Several regional states have reported neutralising incoming drones and missiles in recent days amid escalating hostilities.
The incident comes amid a wider spike in violence that followed a combined U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran on February 28. Iran responded with multiple drone and missile strikes, and the confrontation—affecting Gulf states, Israel and U.S. assets—had entered its 19th day by March 18.
The security crisis has also disrupted civilian life and logistics: international airports in Dubai and Doha have repeatedly closed, with consequences for global trade, passenger travel and deliveries of essential medical supplies.
In reaction to the deteriorating situation, Saudi Arabia said it would host foreign ministers from a group of Arab and Islamic countries in Riyadh for consultations aimed at coordinating measures to bolster regional security and stability. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held preparatory phone calls with counterparts in the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Algeria and Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of the meeting.
Wednesday’s talks are intended to seek de-escalation and prevent the crisis from worsening. Reported by ANI.
