Qatar says downs two Iranian warplanes, intercepts missiles

DOHA -- Qatar shot down two Iranian Su-24 military aircraft Monday evening and intercepted multiple missiles and drones in what officials described as a coordinated attack, the country's Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Air defense systems, working with the Qatari air force and navy, intercepted seven ballistic missiles and five drones during the assault, the ministry added in the statement. All missiles were destroyed before reaching their targets, preventing casualties and major damage.

The ministry said Qatar's armed forces "possess the full capabilities and resources necessary to protect the country's sovereignty and territory and to respond decisively to any external threat."

In a joint statement on Monday, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, and the U.S. denounced strikes targeting the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, including Iraq's Kurdistan Region.

The attacks "targeted sovereign territory, endangered civilian populations and damaged civilian infrastructure," the statement said, calling the strikes "unjustified and reckless."

Israel and the United States launched large-scale strikes on Iran on Saturday, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior officials. The attacks, which hit most Iranian provinces, have killed more than 550 people, according to Iranian media.

Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel and U.S. military bases across the region. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Tehran seeks to maintain friendly relations with its neighbors and that its attacks are aimed only at U.S. military assets.