Missiles from space, fighter jets from Red Sea: Inside Israel’s strike on Doha

On September 9, 2025, Israel launched a surprise attack on Doha, Qatar, in an operation aimed at killing senior Hamas leaders. Now details of the attack are emegring, shedding light on how the strike was executed.

According to senior U.S. officials cited by The Wall Street Journal, the assault combined ballistic missile launches from the Red Sea with an air operation involving F-15 and F-35 fighter jets. The report revealed that the missiles were first fired into space, then directed toward the Qatari capital. U.S. space-based infrared sensors detected the launches and confirmed their trajectory toward Doha. Analysts noted that this approach allowed Israel to bypass Saudi airspace without formally violating it.

The Israeli Air Force reportedly deployed eight F-15s and four F-35s over the Red Sea to carry out the mission. Crucially, no Israeli aircraft entered the airspace of neighboring Arab nations, minimizing the risk of a regional confrontation.


The operation caught Washington off guard. U.S. authorities were informed only minutes before the strike, and early intelligence on the target was vague. White House officials indicated that President Donald Trump’s administration had very little advance notice of the plan.

Residents of Doha described hearing loud explosions and seeing smoke plumes over the Katara District. Reuters confirmed that several blasts were heard across the city, prompting panic among locals.

In an official statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the strike was aimed at Hamas leaders and emphasized that precision-guided munitions were used to reduce civilian harm.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry called the attack unprecedented, warning it marked a dangerous escalation. Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said discussions with regional partners were underway to determine a response, with a summit expected in Doha soon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strike, saying the elimination of Hamas’ senior leadership was essential to clearing the path for a ceasefire. The targeted officials were reportedly meeting in Doha to discuss a U.S.-backed truce proposal.

Meanwhile, Israel has stepped up military operations in Gaza, issuing evacuation orders for Gaza City and demolishing several high-rise buildings allegedly used by Hamas. The United Nations has warned of famine conditions, estimating that nearly one million civilians remain trapped in the area under severe humanitarian strain.