The Pentagon already had begun taking measures to strengthen its firepower in the Middle East and protect U.S. bases there.

Iran retaliated against the U.S. on Monday, launching missiles at a U.S. base in Qatar, according to a U.S. defense official and a statement from the Qatar foreign ministry. The missiles targeted Al Udeid Air Base outside Doha and were intercepted by air defenses before they could strike the base,

Iran retaliated on Monday for US strikes on Sunday that targeted three of its nuclear sites, firing 14 missiles at American bases in Qatar and Iraq, per the White House. An Israeli defense official confirmed earlier to Al-Monitor that Iran had launched at least 10 missiles toward US bases in Qatar and one toward Iraq.