Qatar’s Ministry of Defense said its armed forces shot down two Iranian Sukhoi Su-24 tactical bombers, marking one of the clearest reported air-to-air engagements of the expanding regional war.
In a statement reported by Qatar News Agency (QNA), the ministry said the Qatar Amiri Air Force “had downed two Sukhoi Su-24 fighter jets approaching from Iran.” The ministry also said Qatari air defenses intercepted seven ballistic missiles, while the air force and Amiri Naval Forces brought down five drones after they targeted “multiple locations across the country.”
The ministry said Qatari forces intercepted all aircraft before they reached their intended targets. The statement did not specify where the aircraft were engaged, what weapons or air-defense systems Qatar used, or whether the Su-24 crews ejected.
Qatar’s announcement came as Gulf states report growing exposure to Iranian missile and drone activity tied to the wider conflict. Al Jazeera reported that Qatar characterized Iran’s strikes as “reckless and irresponsible.” Iran has targeted countries that host US bases in the region with missiles and drone attacks.
Anadolu Agency, citing the Qatari Defense Ministry statement, reported that Qatar’s air defenses shot down the two Su-24 aircraft “coming from” Iran and intercepted the missiles and drones before impact.
The Su-24 is a Soviet-designed, twin-engine strike aircraft built for low-level attack missions. Qatar did not say whether the aircraft were attempting to strike a specific target, whether they entered Qatari airspace, or whether they were operating with missile or bomb loads.
The Defense Ministry urged residents and visitors to remain calm, follow instructions from security authorities, and rely on official information sources, according to QNA.