Latest news with #AlUdeid
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
US military aircraft no longer visible at base in Qatar: satellite images
Dozens of US military aircraft are no longer on the tarmac at a major US base in Qatar, satellite images show -- a possible move to shield them from eventual Iranian air strikes, as Washington weighs whether to intervene in Tehran's conflict with Israel. Nearly 40 military aircraft -- including transport planes like the Hercules C-130 and reconnaissance aircraft -- were parked on the tarmac at the Al Udeid base on June 5, according to images published by Planet Labs PBC and analyzed by AFP. In an image taken on June 19, only three aircraft are visible. The US embassy in Qatar announced Thursday that access to the base would be limited "out of an abundance of caution and in light of ongoing regional hostilities," and urged personnel to "exercise increased vigilance." The White House says US President Donald Trump will decide sometime in the next two weeks whether to join ally Israel's strikes on Iran. The Islamic republic could then respond by striking US bases in the region. Mark Schwartz, a former lieutenant general in the US Army and a defense researcher at the Rand Corporation, said the personnel, aircraft and installations at Al Udeid would be "extremely vulnerable" given its "close proximity" to Iran. Schwartz, who served in the Middle East, told AFP that even shrapnel could render the aircraft "non-mission capable." "You want to reduce risk to US forces, both personnel and equipment," he said. The planes that have left the tarmac since early June could have been moved to hangars or to other bases in the region. A US defense official would not discuss the specific positioning of assets but told AFP: "We remain committed to maintaining operational security while executing our mission with the highest level of readiness, lethality and professionalism." US forces in the Middle East have been mobilized since Israel's first strikes on Iran nearly a week ago, with an additional aircraft carrier en route and significant aircraft movement. An AFP analysis of open source data tracking aircraft positioning showed that at least 27 military refueling planes -- KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotanker planes -- traveled from the United States to Europe from June 15-18. Twenty-five of them were still in Europe as of late Wednesday, with only two returning to American soil, the data showed. pa-ys-ube/sst/acb
Malay Mail
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Satellite images reveal empty tarmac at major US air base in Qatar
ISRAEL, June 20 — Dozens of US military aircraft are no longer on the tarmac at a major US base in Qatar, satellite images show — a possible move to shield them from eventual Iranian air strikes, as Washington weighs whether to intervene in Tehran's conflict with Israel. Nearly 40 military aircraft — including transport planes like the Hercules C-130 and reconnaissance aircraft — were parked on the tarmac at the Al Udeid base on June 5, according to images published by Planet Labs PBC and analyzed by AFP. In an image taken yesterday, only three aircraft are visible. The US embassy in Qatar announced yesterday that access to the base would be limited 'out of an abundance of caution and in light of ongoing regional hostilities,' and urged personnel to 'exercise increased vigilance.' The White House says US President Donald Trump will decide sometime in the next two weeks whether to join ally Israel's strikes on Iran. The Islamic republic could then respond by striking US bases in the region. Mark Schwartz, a former lieutenant general in the US Army and a defence researcher at the Rand Corporation, said the personnel, aircraft and installations at Al Udeid would be 'extremely vulnerable' given its 'close proximity' to Iran. Schwartz, who served in the Middle East, told AFP that even shrapnel could render the aircraft 'non-mission capable.' 'You want to reduce risk to US forces, both personnel and equipment,' he said. The planes that have left the tarmac since early June could have been moved to hangars or to other bases in the region. A US defence official would not discuss the specific positioning of assets but told AFP: 'We remain committed to maintaining operational security while executing our mission with the highest level of readiness, lethality and professionalism.' US forces in the Middle East have been mobilized since Israel's first strikes on Iran nearly a week ago, with an additional aircraft carrier en route and significant aircraft movement. An AFP analysis of open source data tracking aircraft positioning showed that at least 27 military refuelling planes — KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotanker planes — travelled from the United States to Europe from June 15-18. Twenty-five of them were still in Europe as of late Wednesday, with only two returning to American soil, the data showed. — AFP
CNN
16-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Trump visits largest US base in Middle East
Trump visits largest US base in Middle East CNN's Chief National Affairs Correspondent, Jeff Zeleny, reports from Qatar as President Trump visits Al Udeid, the largest US military base in the Middle East. 01:32 - Source: CNN Vertical World News 14 videos Trump visits largest US base in Middle East CNN's Chief National Affairs Correspondent, Jeff Zeleny, reports from Qatar as President Trump visits Al Udeid, the largest US military base in the Middle East. 01:32 - Source: CNN Qatari PM defends offering plane to President Trump In an interview with CNN's Becky Anderson, Qatari Prime Minister and minister of foreign affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani downplayed the significance of the luxury jet gifted to President Donald Trump, saying it was a "very simple government to government dealing." 01:07 - Source: CNN Zelensky warns 'no time for playing games' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he will head to Turkey and wait for Russian President Vladimir Putin for potential ceasefire talks; but he set some minimal goals for the meeting. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports. 01:26 - Source: CNN Trump meets Syria's new leader In a historic meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, President Trump met with Syrian jihadist-turned-president Ahmed al-Sharaa and announced plans to lift sanctions on Syria. CNN's Becky Anderson breaks down who the Syrian leader is and why this meeting was so significant. 01:27 - Source: CNN Will Trump attend possible Putin-Zelensky meeting? President Donald Trump continued to express interest in traveling to Turkey for a possible high-stakes meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump is currently scheduled to be Doha and Abu Dhabi on Thursday. 01:06 - Source: CNN Trump addresses Qatari jet gift In an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, President Donald Trump addressed his plan to accept a jet worth hundreds of millions of dollars as a gift from the Qatari royal family. 00:53 - Source: CNN Syrians react after Trump says he plans to lift sanctions President Donald Trump announced he plans to lift sanctions on Syria during a speech in Saudi Arabia citing the fall of the Assad regime as grounds for the release of pressure on the country. Syrians spared little time before celebrating. 00:51 - Source: CNN Influencers showing Russia's view of Mariupol Three years after it seized control of Mariupol following a brutal 86-day siege, Russia is using a more subtle power to keep its grip on the Ukranian port city: social media influencers. CNN's investigation found that residents of the occupied city, including school children, are being trained in new media programs and 'blogger schools' ties to the Russian state. 02:10 - Source: CNN Is Qatar gifting President Trump the plane he always wanted? President Trump said he'd accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 from the Qatari Royal Family to use as Air Force One. For years, he'd complain that the presidential plane is "very old" and tried to make upgrades to the fleet. 01:21 - Source: CNN Trump meets with Saudi crown prince President Donald Trump is in Riyadh visiting with the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on his first international trip of his second term. CNN's Kaitlan Collins explains what Trump is hoping to accomplish. 01:07 - Source: CNN Trump makes Middle East a priority with Gulf trip President Trump has arrived in the Gulf for a three-day trip that will see him visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Choosing the region as his first major trip as president sends a strong message about not only his priorities but also his foreign policy. CNN's Becky Anderson looks at three reasons why the region is important to him. 01:42 - Source: CNN See Edan Alexander's reunion with family after release Edan Alexander, the last known living American hostage in Gaza, was released by Hamas and reunited with his family on Monday, ending an 18-month ordeal that began with the militant group's October 7 attack. 00:40 - Source: CNN Trump defends plan to accept jet from Qatar President Trump defended a plan to accept a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family that will be retrofitted and used as Air Force One during the president's second term. Ethics experts have raised concerns about the potential move and questioned whether accepting the plane will violate the Constitution's Emoluments Clause. 01:02 - Source: CNN
CNN
16-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Trump visits largest US base in Middle East
Trump visits largest US base in Middle East CNN's Chief National Affairs Correspondent, Jeff Zeleny, reports from Qatar as President Trump visits Al Udeid, the largest US military base in the Middle East. 01:32 - Source: CNN Vertical World News 14 videos Trump visits largest US base in Middle East CNN's Chief National Affairs Correspondent, Jeff Zeleny, reports from Qatar as President Trump visits Al Udeid, the largest US military base in the Middle East. 01:32 - Source: CNN Qatari PM defends offering plane to President Trump In an interview with CNN's Becky Anderson, Qatari Prime Minister and minister of foreign affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani downplayed the significance of the luxury jet gifted to President Donald Trump, saying it was a "very simple government to government dealing." 01:07 - Source: CNN Zelensky warns 'no time for playing games' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he will head to Turkey and wait for Russian President Vladimir Putin for potential ceasefire talks; but he set some minimal goals for the meeting. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports. 01:26 - Source: CNN Trump meets Syria's new leader In a historic meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, President Trump met with Syrian jihadist-turned-president Ahmed al-Sharaa and announced plans to lift sanctions on Syria. CNN's Becky Anderson breaks down who the Syrian leader is and why this meeting was so significant. 01:27 - Source: CNN Will Trump attend possible Putin-Zelensky meeting? President Donald Trump continued to express interest in traveling to Turkey for a possible high-stakes meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump is currently scheduled to be Doha and Abu Dhabi on Thursday. 01:06 - Source: CNN Trump addresses Qatari jet gift In an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, President Donald Trump addressed his plan to accept a jet worth hundreds of millions of dollars as a gift from the Qatari royal family. 00:53 - Source: CNN Syrians react after Trump says he plans to lift sanctions President Donald Trump announced he plans to lift sanctions on Syria during a speech in Saudi Arabia citing the fall of the Assad regime as grounds for the release of pressure on the country. Syrians spared little time before celebrating. 00:51 - Source: CNN Influencers showing Russia's view of Mariupol Three years after it seized control of Mariupol following a brutal 86-day siege, Russia is using a more subtle power to keep its grip on the Ukranian port city: social media influencers. CNN's investigation found that residents of the occupied city, including school children, are being trained in new media programs and 'blogger schools' ties to the Russian state. 02:10 - Source: CNN Is Qatar gifting President Trump the plane he always wanted? President Trump said he'd accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 from the Qatari Royal Family to use as Air Force One. For years, he'd complain that the presidential plane is "very old" and tried to make upgrades to the fleet. 01:21 - Source: CNN Trump meets with Saudi crown prince President Donald Trump is in Riyadh visiting with the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on his first international trip of his second term. CNN's Kaitlan Collins explains what Trump is hoping to accomplish. 01:07 - Source: CNN Trump makes Middle East a priority with Gulf trip President Trump has arrived in the Gulf for a three-day trip that will see him visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Choosing the region as his first major trip as president sends a strong message about not only his priorities but also his foreign policy. CNN's Becky Anderson looks at three reasons why the region is important to him. 01:42 - Source: CNN See Edan Alexander's reunion with family after release Edan Alexander, the last known living American hostage in Gaza, was released by Hamas and reunited with his family on Monday, ending an 18-month ordeal that began with the militant group's October 7 attack. 00:40 - Source: CNN Trump defends plan to accept jet from Qatar President Trump defended a plan to accept a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family that will be retrofitted and used as Air Force One during the president's second term. Ethics experts have raised concerns about the potential move and questioned whether accepting the plane will violate the Constitution's Emoluments Clause. 01:02 - Source: CNN
Wall Street Journal
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Trump Addresses Troops at U.S. Base That Undergirds Qatar Ties
AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar—President Trump used a stop at this U.S. base to highlight his role as commander in chief, spotlighting rising military recruitment back home and a $1 trillion defense-budget request, without articulating substantial policy on confronting Iran or ending the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. The venue for the remarks was his main prop: Al Udeid Air Base, the biggest U.S. military site in the Middle East. It houses around 10,000 troops at the regional headquarters of U.S. Central Command, Special Operations Command, the Air Force's 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and airmen of the Space Force that Trump created during his first term.
