Young Soldiers Defend Al Udeid Air Base Against Iranian Missile Attack

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, disclosed information about the small group of soldiers who were tasked with defending Al Udeid Air Base during an Iranian missile attack on Monday. He described the event as the largest single engagement in U.S. military history for the Patriot missile defense system. The Qatar Patriot system also participated in the defense.

The 44 soldiers left to defend the base after the evacuation were between the ages of 21 and 28. They were equipped with only two Patriot systems to protect the base, a significant Middle East headquarters that typically houses 10,000 American soldiers.

Caine highlighted the immense responsibility placed on these young soldiers, particularly the first lieutenants, who, at the age of 25 or 26, were responsible for the tactical direction of the defense. He emphasized the pressure of making critical decisions with strategic implications in a matter of seconds.

The Iranian missile attack on the Qatari-based U.S. base was a response to U.S. actions against Iranian nuclear facilities. President Donald Trump indicated that Iran had provided advance notice of the attack, aiming for a symbolic retaliation without escalating the conflict.

Iran employed short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles in the attack on Al-Udeid Air Base. No casualties were reported. The base is a crucial logistical hub for the U.S. mission against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, serving as the forward headquarters for Central Command, its air forces, and special operations in the region. It has also been used as a headquarters for British airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq.