Khamis Al-Khanjar condemns Iran’s drone strike on Qatar as threat to Gulf security

BAGHDAD — Khamis Al-Khanjar, head of Iraq’s Sovereignty Alliance, strongly condemned what he described as an Iranian drone attack on Qatari territory, calling it a “blatant violation” of sovereignty and a threat to regional security, particularly in the Gulf.

“We condemn in the strongest terms the Iranian drone attack on the territory of the State of Qatar,” Al-Khanjar said in a statement Monday night. “We consider it a blatant violation of its sovereignty and a serious threat to regional security in its entirety, particularly in the Gulf region.”

He warned against the use of Arab countries as platforms for military confrontations, calling the attack part of a dangerous regional trend.

The Iranian missile strike occurred Monday evening in what Tehran said was retaliation for U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan two days earlier. Qatar’s Defense Ministry said most of the missiles were intercepted by air defense systems.

The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that 13 of the 14 missiles were downed, and the remaining one caused no significant damage.

Shortly after the attack, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a cease-fire between Iran and Israel, effective 7 a.m. Tuesday local time.

Full statement:

We condemn in the strongest terms the Iranian drone attack on the territory of the State of Qatar. We consider it a blatant violation of its sovereignty and a serious threat to regional security in its entirety, particularly in the Gulf region.

Any attempt to target the lands of Arab countries or to use them as arenas for military retaliation constitutes a dangerous overreach that violates international laws and norms.

At a time when Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and the occupied West Bank of Palestine are under attack, and in light of numerous Israeli allegations toward various Iranian cities, this confirms the brutality and crimes of this entity. Targeting the security and sovereignty of an Arab state is a dangerous precedent that must be addressed at the highest levels.

We highly value the position of the Qatari leadership, represented by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and affirm the sovereign right of the State of Qatar to take appropriate legal and diplomatic measures to protect its sovereignty and the rights of its people.

We also call on the international community to assume its responsibilities and take immediate steps to curb Zionist crimes against Arab and Islamic nations. We stress the importance of supporting diplomatic efforts as the primary means to resolve conflicts and establish peace and security.