Qatar denies US warning on Israeli strike in Doha, calls claim ‘baseless’

Qatar rejects US claim it was warned of Israeli strike on Hamas leaders in Doha

The Qatari government denied receiving any warning from the United States about Israel’s “impending strikes” on Doha, following White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s claim that Washington had alerted them.

According to AFP, the White House later said President Donald Trump had directed his envoy to inform Qatar of the planned attack and that he personally spoke with leaders in both Israel and Qatar after the strike.

Majed Al Ansari, advisor to the prime minister and spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the only call from Washington came after the explosions had already started.

“Statements circulating about Qatar being informed of the attack in advance are false. The call received from an American official came as explosions sounded from the Israeli attack in Doha,” Al Ansari wrote on X.

The statements being circulated about Qatar being informed of the attack in advance are baseless. The call from a U.S. official came during the sound of explosions caused by the Israeli attack in Doha.

— د. ماجد محمد الأنصاري Dr. Majed Al Ansari (@majedalansari) September 9, 2025

According to the White House, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff was instructed to notify Qatari officials before Israel’s operation, which targeted senior Hamas figures in Doha. CNN reported that the strike hit a residential neighborhood in the capital where top Hamas leaders were based.