--- title: "Israel Executes Unprecedented Strike On Hamas Leadership In Qatar (Updated)" description: "Israel has carried out a precision strike targeting the top leadership of Hamas in the Qatari capital Doha. This appears to be the first time Israeli forces have openly attacked in Qatar, marking a significant expansion in the country's operations…" date: "2025-09-09" modified: "2025-09-09" authors: - name: "Howard Altman" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/howard-altman" - name: "Joseph Trevithick" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick" url: "https://www.twz.com/news-features/israel-executes-unprecedented-strike-on-hamas-leadership-in-qatar" categories: - "Around The Globe" - "Israel" - "Middle East" - "News & Features" --- # Israel Executes Unprecedented Strike On Hamas Leadership In Qatar (Updated) ![Israel has carried out precision strikes targeting the top leadership of the terrorist group Hamas in the Qatari capital Doha.]() *Via X* Israel has carried out a precision strike targeting the top leadership of Hamas in the Qatari capital Doha. This appears to be the first time Israeli forces have openly attacked in Qatar, marking a significant expansion in the country's operations against Hamas. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (ISA; better known as Shin Bet) issued a joint statement after explosions rocked an area of Doha earlier today. This all comes as Hamas negotiators [have been considering a Gaza ceasefire proposal]() put forth by the U.S. government. https://twitter.com/Archer83Able/status/1965404788805480877 https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1965406108341993748 https://twitter.com/MerruX/status/1965401070240448842 The IDF/ISA full statement is as follows: *"The IDF and ISA conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization."* *"For years, these members of the Hamas leadership have led the terrorist organization's operations, are directly responsible for the brutal October 7 massacre, and have been orchestrating and managing the war against the State of Israel."* *"Prior to the strike, measures were taken in order to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and additional intelligence."* *"The IDF and ISA will continue to operate with determination in order to defeat the Hamas terrorist organization responsible for the October 7 massacre."* https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1965403047556780348 This IDF/ISA statement does not provide any details about how the strikes were carried out. A separate statement from the Israeli Air Force said the operation had been carried out "through" that service, but no additional context is offered. As such, how exactly Israel struck the target remains a mystery. With Qatar being located on the Persian Gulf, it would have been a very long-range fighter operation, but keeping such an operation from being spotted would be challenging. The use of long-range standoff munitions launched from those aircraft is a high possibility. A weapon could also have been launched from sea or even land closer to the target. Israel [has a stealth drone as well](). We just don't know at this time. "The State of Qatar strongly condemns the cowardly Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings housing several members of the Political Bureau of Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha. This criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms, and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar," Dr. Majed Al Ansari, spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign Ministry and advisor to the country's Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said in a statement. "The Ministry affirms that the security forces, civil defense, and relevant authorities immediately began addressing the incident and taking necessary measures to contain its repercussions and ensure the safety of the residents and surrounding areas." https://twitter.com/majedalansari/status/1965407402607677474 "While the State of Qatar strongly condemns this assault, it confirms that it will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior and the ongoing disruption of regional security, nor any act that targets its security and sovereignty," Al Ansari added. "Investigations are underway at the highest level, and further details will be announced as soon as they are available." In addition to impacts on U.S. efforts to broker a ceasefire with Hamas, Israel's operation today could present significant additional complications for Washington. Qatar is a key U.S. partner in the Middle East. Al Udeid Air Base in the country is also a major hub for U.S. military operations in the region, which was [notably subjected to an Iranian missile barrage]() back in June. At the same time, just this past weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump had issued what he termed a "last warning" to Hamas "about the consequences of not accepting" the proposed deal in a post on his Truth Social social media network.[]() https://twitter.com/mdubowitz/status/1965404555988140061 The full fallout from Israel's operation targeting Hamas' top leadership in Qatar today remains to be seen. This is a developing story. ***Update: 10:56 AM Eastern -*** Israel said it used “precise munitions and additional intelligence” in the strike, an Israeli official told *[The]()*[ *Associated Press* ]()without elaborating. [The Iranian *Press TV* news outlet questioned]() why "with many air defense systems present"...the U.S. hadn't "fired a single shot to defend Qatar against the Israeli invasion." An Israeli official said the United States was informed ahead of the attack, [*CNN* reported](). We have reached out to the White House to find out if it knew ahead of time about the attack and what, if any, role the U.S. played. We will update this story with any pertinent information provided. Meanwhile, additional video has emerged showing the buildings where the attack took place. https://twitter.com/Archer83Able/status/1965414367555715346 ***Update 2:58 PM Eastern -*** The attack on Qatar came via an airstrike. "It was carried out using 15 Israeli fighter jets, firing 10 munitions against a single target," [the *BBC* reported](), citing Israeli media. https://twitter.com/IsraelRadar\_com/status/1965435925909176760 The IAF released statements made by the Chief of the General Staff to its pilots at the onset of the strike: “These are the terrorists whose entire aspiration was to be the spearhead for the destruction of the State of Israel — we will continue to carry out our mission everywhere, at every range, near and far, in order to to hold our enemies accountable,” said Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir. “Authorized. Proceed — eliminate the heads from the Hamas terrorist organization. We are settling a moral and ethical account on behalf of all the victims of October 7th. We will not rest and we will not be silent until we bring back our hostages and defeat Hamas.” https://twitter.com/iafsite/status/1965468142735691859?s=12 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took full credit for ordering the attack. "At noon today, I convened the heads of Israel's security organizations and authorized a surgical, precision strike on the terrorist chiefs of Hamas." Netanyahu also claimed the attack “can open the door to an end of the war in Gaza." https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1965476096109150321 Hamas, meanwhile, says[ its top leaders survived the Israeli strike on Qatar]() and that five lower-ranking members died, [the *AP* reported](). In Washington, the Trump administration "condemned Israel's unilateral attack on Hamas in Doha, Qatar, emphasizing that it undermined U.S. and Israeli interests," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. "President Trump was informed of the impending strike by his military and alerted Qatar's leadership. He expressed regret over the attack's location and called for the release of hostages and dead in Gaza. Trump also spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu, who expressed a desire for peace post-attack. The President thanked Qatar for its support and assured that such an incident wouldn't occur again on Qatari soil, viewing it as an opportunity for peace." https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1965479210832826841 Ansari, the Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman, denied his country was informed about the strikes before they happened. https://twitter.com/majedalansari/status/1965484361727574198 U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres also condemned Israel's strike in Qatar. https://twitter.com/AP/status/1965459479018832071 ***Update 3:59 PM Eastern -*** The U.S. military spotted [Israeli]() jets flying east toward the Persian Gulf but had little time to react, [according to *Axios*](). "The U.S. sought clarification, but by the time Israel provided it, missiles were already in the air," the publication reported, citing three U.S. officials. https://twitter.com/BarakRavid/status/1965501611750686875 The Qatari Ministry of Interior (MoI), [in a press statement](), said that after security authorities began conducting technical investigations, matching fingerprints and evidence at the targeted site, and verifying the individuals' identities, confirmed that the attack resulted in the killing of Hammam Khalil Al-Hayya. He was the son of Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya. https://twitter.com/ragipsoylu/status/1965441994018500826 ***Update: 4:59 PM Eastern -*** As news is focused on the fate of Israelis taken hostage, Trump announced that Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian researcher who was taken hostage in Iraq two years ago, has been freed. https://twitter.com/thestevennabil/status/1965518843553722746 ***Update 6:10 PM Eastern -*** In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump said he "instructed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to finalize an upcoming Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between the United States and Qatar." https://twitter.com/PollTracker2024/status/1965512636638105696 *Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com* ## Author Howard is a Senior Staff Writer for *TWZ*. He writes frequently about conflict, focusing heavily on the Middle East and Ukraine, and interviews with military and intelligence officials and industry leaders from around the globe. He lives near Tampa, Florida, home of U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [LinkedIn]()