The planes, two Su-24 tactical bombers, had been targeted at two important sites: The al-Udeid Air Base, where approximately 10,000 US soldiers are housed, and Ras Laffan, a gas processing facility.

Iranian tactical bombers were only minutes away from striking a US military base when Qatari planesshot them down on Monday, CNN reported.

The planes, two Su-24 tactical bombers, had been apparently targeted at two important sites in Qatar: The al-Udeid Air Base, where approximately 10,000 US soldiers are housed, and Ras Laffan, a gas processing facility.

Sources told CNN that the jets were identified visually as “carrying bombs and guided munitions,” were flying at low altitude in order to evade radar, and did not respond to radio warnings.

The aircraft were classified as hostile, and taken out in aerial combat by a Qatari F-15 fighter, only "two minutes" away from their targets.

This operation marked the first time the Qatari air force has engaged in air-to-air combat, CNN noted, adding that it was unusual for Iran to attack using manned aircraft instead of missiles or drones.

In a call between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi andQatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani on Wednesday, the Prime Minister cited this attack as one of several conducted by Iran against Qatar.

"His Excellency added that these Iranian actions reflected 'an escalatory approach' and did not indicate any genuine desire for de-escalation or resolution, accusing Tehran of seeking to harm its neighbors and draw them into a war 'that is not theirs'," Qatar's Foreign Affairs Ministry stated about the call in a post on X/Twitter.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry also stated that the Prime Minister cited Qatar's right to self-defense while saying that "such attacks could not go unanswered."