India, June 23 -- Explosions echoed through parts of Qatar on Monday night shortly after the Gulf nation closed its airspace, citing threats of Iranian retaliation over recent US airstrikes on key nuclear sites in Iran.

Iran claimed it had targeted American forces stationed at Qatar's Al Udeid Air Base, calling it "a mighty and successful response to America's aggression," in an announcement aired on state TV.

Just before the blasts, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on X, "We neither initiated the war nor [are we] seeking it. But we will not leave invasion to the great Iran without answer."

The closure of Qatari airspace came as tensions soared across the region. Earlier, the US had carried out coordinated airstrikes on Iran'...