US opens new air defense operations cell at Qatar base that Iran targeted in retaliatory attack

The U.S. military and its regional partners opened a new air defense operations cell in Qatar to "enhance integrated air and missile defense," U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Tuesday, as tensions are escalating in Iran. 

The cell was opened at Al Udeid Air Base outside of Doha – the same base that Iran targeted in a retaliatory attack last June following U.S. strikes on Tehran’s nuclear facilities.  

The base is home to 10,000 American forces and is the U.S.’s largest military installation in the Middle East.