UK Foreign Office rescinded its emergency guidance asking citizens in Qatar to take shelter, issued just hours earlier after Iran launched missiles at the Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US military installation in the region.
In a dramatic turn of events in the Middle East, the United Kingdom has lifted its “shelter-in-place” advisory for British nationals in Qatar, following a surprise ceasefire announcement by US President Donald Trump between Iran and Israel. The move came after days of escalating hostilities that brought the region to the brink of full-scale war, with retaliatory strikes and threats between the two arch-rivals drawing in global powers.
The ceasefire deal, announced late Monday on Trump’s Truth Social platform, aims to end what the US President called a “12-Day War” marked by heavy Israeli bombing of Iranian nuclear sites, retaliatory missile strikes on American bases, and widespread instability across the Gulf.
“The ceasefire is now in effect. Please do not violate it!” Trump wrote, urging restraint on both sides. According to his post, Iran was expected to begin a phased ceasefire followed by Israel, with a complete halt to hostilities within 24 hours.
UK withdraws Qatar safety warning
As tensions simmered, the UK Foreign Office rescinded its emergency guidance asking citizens in Qatar to take shelter, issued just hours earlier after Iran launched missiles at the Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US military installation in the region.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy had earlier urged Tehran to “take the off-ramp” and engage in diplomacy following the American bombing of three Iranian nuclear facilities. The UK had initially issued the shelter warning amid fears of further escalation and airspace shutdowns across Qatar.
The removal of the advisory came as Qatar reopened its airspace, allowing Qatar Airways to resume operations after a temporary suspension. The carrier announced the deployment of additional staff at Hamad International Airport to manage the returning wave of travellers.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the airline said: “Qatar Airways confirms the reinstatement of flights as airspace reopens in the State of Qatar. Our focus at this time is to help our passengers return home or reach their onwards journey safely and smoothly.”
Rapid escalation, swift diplomacy
The path to this truce was paved with a flurry of attacks and counterattacks, culminating in a rare show of diplomacy by regional leaders and an assertive intervention by President Trump.
The conflict began on June 13 with Israel’s launch of “Operation Rising Lion” — a surprise offensive targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. In retaliation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) unleashed “Operation True Promise 3”, a barrage of drones and missiles aimed at Israeli fuel depots, airbases, and infrastructure.
Matters worsened when the United States intervened militarily over the weekend with precision airstrikes on three of Iran’s nuclear sites under the codename “Operation Midnight Hammer”. Tehran responded with missiles aimed at US bases in Qatar and Iraq, including Al Udeid, triggering fears of a broader regional conflict.
Though President Trump dismissed the Iranian missile attack as “a very weak response” and thanked the Islamic Republic “for giving us early notice”, the situation remained volatile.
Qatar’s critical role
Behind the scenes, Qatar played a pivotal diplomatic role. According to a Reuters report, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani helped secure Tehran’s agreement to the ceasefire during a phone call with Iranian officials. The mediation came after Trump’s conversation with Qatar’s Emir, in which the US President conveyed Israel’s willingness to pause hostilities and requested Doha’s assistance in sealing the deal.
Despite the announcement, the final hours of the conflict were marked by more bloodshed. Iran launched another missile strike on southern Israel, reportedly killing four people and injuring several others in Beersheba after a projectile hit a residential building, The Times of Israel reported.
Trump, in a follow-up post, described the arrangement as a “phased ceasefire” — with Iran halting attacks first and Israel following 12 hours later. The agreement is intended to culminate in a “complete and total ceasefire” within 24 hours.
The fragile calm now hanging over the Middle East comes as a relief to many in the international community, though critics have questioned the sustainability of the truce.
President Trump, facing global scrutiny for the US’s role in the conflict, framed the ceasefire as a personal diplomatic victory, crediting his administration’s “decisive leadership.” He had earlier described the Iranian retaliation against American bases as “minor,” even as military experts raised alarms over the involvement of multiple countries in a highly volatile region.
Meanwhile, British authorities are working to stabilise travel and business links with Qatar. British officials say security will remain tight in Doha for several days, but normalcy is expected to return if the ceasefire holds.
