Israel’s Airstrike in Doha Raises Questions over Qatar’s Air Defense Capability

Israel’s precision airstrike in Doha has raised concerns about the effectiveness of Qatar’s multi-billion-dollar air defense network, after advanced fighter jets and missile batteries failed to respond.

Qatar’s defenses include 11 U.S.-supplied Patriot PAC-3 batteries, hundreds of GEM-T and PAC-3 interceptors, and NASAMS fire units procured in 2019, including the AMRAAM-ER variant deployed for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

According to reports, Tuesday’s strike targeted a villa in West Bay Lagoon, killing Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya’s son Humam, one aide, and a Qatari security officer. Al-Hayya and senior figure Khaled Meshaal reportedly survived. The area is known for foreign embassies and international schools.

Israeli media reported that 10 munitions were dropped on Hamas-linked targets without any interception. No Qatari Rafales, Eurofighter Typhoons, or F-15QA Ababil fighters scrambled, and neither Patriot nor NASAMS batteries fired. The incident occurred despite Qatar hosting the U.S. Central Command’s forward headquarters at Al-Udeid Air Base, home to more than 10,000 American personnel and the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC).

Analysts are now assessing how Israeli aircraft penetrated one of the Gulf’s most defended airspaces. Possible explanations include Israel's radar-evading F-35I “Adir” combat aircraft, standoff weapons fired from beyond Qatari airspace, electronic warfare (EW) disrupting radars, and gaps in coverage. Other theories suggest delayed fighter response, command-and-control breakdowns, or reliance on U.S. oversight at Al-Udeid base. Some also suggest tacit political restraint from Qatar or Washington, although this is unlikely as both countries have expressed disappointment in Israel’s move.

The failure raises doubts over the performance of West-supplied air defense systems. It could accelerate Gulf states’ interest in alternatives from China, Russia, or Turkey.