Israel has said that it has carried out an airstrike against Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar

The Israeli military said it launched an airstrike on Hamas’ political headquarters in Qatar, marking a dramatic escalation in the conflict. Television broadcasts from Doha showed a massive plume of gray smoke rising over the city where the strike occurred.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the attack in coordination with Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency. “The IDF and ISA conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization,” the statement read. It accused those leaders of directing Hamas operations for years, holding them directly responsible for the October 7 massacre, and managing the ongoing war against Israel. The IDF said it used precision-guided munitions and additional intelligence to minimize civilian harm.

Qatar, which has played a central role as a mediator in efforts to end the Gaza war, condemned the attack in strong terms. Its government described the strike as a “cowardly Israeli attack” that targeted residential buildings housing members of Hamas’ political bureau. The Qatari foreign ministry said the assault violated international law and posed “a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar.”

The statement added that Qatar “will not tolerate this reckless and irresponsible Israeli behavior, which continuously undermines the region’s security.”