Qatar has slammed Israel's attack targeting Hamas leaders on its soil as an act of "state terrorism" after an upscale suburb in its capital, Doha, was rocked with explosions that killed six people and dashed hopes of a ceasefire in Gaza, where the Gulf Arab state is a mediator.
The attack stunned the tiny Gulf nation, which is a U.S. ally that hosts Hamas leaders in exile as well as thousands of U.S. troops on the largest air base for American forces in the Middle East. Qatar is also where President Trump visited in May and lavished praise on the country's leadership for its role as a mediator in conflicts around the world.
That role, however, has drawn it into the orbit of Israel's many wars in the region, including in June when the U.S. military base in Qatar came under Iranian missile attack during a 12-day war between Israel and Iran that also saw the U.S. get directly involved. Iran's missiles were intercepted with advance warning. Israel has also attacked Syria, Lebanon and Yemen this week.