On Monday, March 2, 2026, the Qatari Ministry of Defence announced that earlier that day it had shot down two Iranian Su-24MK tactical bombers and intercepted seven ballistic missiles and five drones launched by the regime in Tehran.
Photos: Shahram Sharif via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The shootdowns were carried out by units of the Qatari Emiri Air Force (Al-Quwwat Al-Jawiyah Al-Amiriyah Al-Qatariyah) and the Qatari Emiri Navy (Al-Bahriyah Al-Amiriyah Al-Qatariyah). The Iranian strike reportedly targeted multiple sites across Qatar.
According to the ministry, all missiles were intercepted before reaching their intended targets, in accordance with operational plans activated immediately after the threats were detected.
The ministry emphasized that the Qatari Emiri Armed Forces possess full capabilities to protect the country’s sovereignty and territory and to respond decisively to any external threats.
It also called on citizens, residents, and tourists to remain calm, follow instructions issued by the security authorities, and rely on official sources of information.
According to a report by Qatar’s Ministry of Interior, since Saturday, February 28, a total of 66 ballistic missiles and more than a dozen drones have already been intercepted.
Qatar operates a modern air force that has been significantly modernized in recent years (36 Rafale DQ/EQ, 37 F-15QA Ababil with 13 more on order, and 24 Eurofighter Typhoon with 12 more on order), as well as air and missile defense systems (11 MIM-104 Patriot batteries and NASAMS).
Qatar was already attacked by Iran last year in retaliation for the U.S. operation Midnight Hammer, as the Al Udeid Air Base on its territory hosts both the U.S. Air Force and the Royal Air Force.
For Iran, the loss of a pair of Su-24MK aircraft is another blow to its air force since the start of the conflict. Earlier today, a single Su-22M4 was lost at Shiraz Shahid Dastgheib Airport, and yesterday at Tabriz Shahid Madani Airport one F-4 Phantom II and one F-5F Tiger II were also lost. According to data from the World Air Forces 2026 report, 21 Su-24MK aircraft were in active service at the beginning of this year.
Image: the Qatari Ministry Of Defence
UPDATE
On Wednesday, March 4, as reported by CNN, citing sources in Qatar, the Iranian bombers had intended to attack Al Udeid Air Base using bombs and guided munitions but were shot down by a Qatari F-15QA Ababil multirole fighter. Both bombers crashed in Qatar’s territorial waters.