Qatar has rejected Iranian claims that its strikes do not target civilian locations, as missile and drone attacks on the country continue despite appearing less intense in recent days, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman Dr Majed Al-Ansari said in a briefing on Monday.
“I find it very difficult to even respond to what Mr Aragchi said in light of the fact that these attacks are ongoing every day,” Al-Ansari told reporters, referring to the Iranian foreign minister’s denial that Tehran would target civilian sites.
“Since the Iranian attacks have started on Qatar, the threats and the attacks on civilian targets have not stopped,” Al-Ansari said.
“These attacks have targeted our LNG facilities in Ras Laffan, they have targeted the industrial complex in Mesaieed, they have targeted the airport, Hamad International Airport, and they have targeted residential areas,” he added.
Shortly after the briefing ended, two consecutive air-raid alerts were issued in Doha, with interception blasts heard across parts of the city’s skyline by Euronews journalists.
Qatar’s air defences have intercepted over 90% of the incoming attacks, Al-Ansari said.
While the pace of attacks may appear lower than at the start of the war, he said they have not stopped.
“You might see what some people would call a lessening of the intensity of attacks, but yesterday there were attacks using five different drones,” Al-Ansari said.
The foreign ministry spokesman presented details of an evacuation in Doha on Saturday night when the trajectory of an Iranian missile showed that it was a threat to central residential areas in the capital.
The missile was intercepted, and the evacuees have returned to their homes.
Law enforcement was deployed in parts of central Doha at the time of the attack, with some streets cordoned off in the Musheireb district. The area hosts offices used by international technology and financial companies.
Al-Ansari said Iranian threats circulating online had mentioned specific companies and locations in Qatar, which authorities took seriously when assessing potential risks.
“The threat to civilians is ongoing every day and the fact that we had to evacuate civilians, and students, and faculty during the weekend is just one realisation of what this means for the people who are living in these conditions,” the spokesman said.
Qatar hails Europe’s defence support
The foreign ministry spokesman declared that Qatar is “hugely appreciative” of Europe’s support throughout the crisis, highlighting the country’s defence by the joint Qatar-Europe squadron which includes France, Italy, Germany, the UK and others.
“The defensive posture in the region has been helped with our European partnerships,” Al-Ansari said.
In a statement echoing a similar appreciation for Europe by the UAE in a Euronews interview with Lana Nusseibeh, Minister of State at the UAE Foreign Ministry, Dr Al-Ansari said that “what is taking place right now in this European position is laying the ground for an important increase in our defense and security partnerships with Europe.”
“These are the times when you know your partners and your friends as assets, and this is what we have seen when it comes to Europe,” the Qatari official said.
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman said that Doha is not aware of any mediation efforts underway, especially while the Iranian attacks continue.
“There are daily missiles and drones coming into our country, which means it is very difficult to envision a diplomatic solution without these attacks stopping,” he said.
During the briefing he also shared what he described as a personal reflection on the situation.
“This message is personal. But I hope we don’t reach a point where we normalise the crisis to the point of becoming accustomed to such attacks,” he said.
“We hope this will be an exceptional situation for all of us in the region, as the Gulf has always been an oasis of security and stability,” Qatar’s foreign ministry official concluded.