_{Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Passes Away: Qatar Mourns the Father Amir}

His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Amir of Qatar, has passed away. Born on January 1, 1952, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani was 74 years old at the time of his passing on July 12, 2026.

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The announcement was confirmed by the Amiri Diwan of Qatar.

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani served as the Emir of Qatar from 1995 until 2013, when he voluntarily transferred power to his son, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in a historic and peaceful transition of power that was widely recognised as a defining moment in the region. He held the title of Father Amir following his abdication, remaining a deeply respected figure in Qatar and across the Arab world.

Under his leadership, Qatar underwent a profound transformation, expanding its international standing through diplomacy, media, sport, infrastructure and energy development. Qatar’s emergence as a global destination, a leading natural gas exporter, and a respected diplomatic voice on the world stage was shaped significantly during his years as Emir.

The Amiri Diwan announces that the funeral prayer for the late, God willing, His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani will be held after Maghrib prayer today, Sunday, July 12, at the Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab Mosque in Doha City, after which his body will be laid to rest in the Lusail Cemetery.

The Amiri Diwan announces the general mourning throughout all parts of the country for the great national loss, the late—may God have mercy on him—His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, for a period of 4 days, starting from today, Sunday, July 12, 2026.

Notice regarding the regulation of the movement of those heading to the Imam Muhammad bin Abdulwahhab Mosque to perform the funeral prayer for the forgiven one, by the permission of Allah, the late great patriot, His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, may God have mercy on him.

Flags lowered in mourning for the great national loss, His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani

Qatar and the world mourn his passing.

May his soul rest in peace.

Source: Amiri Diwan of Qatar, diwan.gov.qa

_{Qatar Security Alert July 12 2026: Elevated Threat, Stay Indoors, Threat Cleared at 5:54am}

At 5:36 AM on Sunday July 12, 2026, residents across Qatar received a National Emergency Alert on their phones from the Ministry of Interior. The message was clear and urgent. The security threat level is elevated. Everyone must remain in their homes and safe places. Stay away from windows, glass facades and exposed areas until the threat has passed.

Eighteen minutes later, at 5:54 AM, a second alert confirmed that the security threat had been eliminated.

Many residents woke not to their phones but to the sounds themselves. Comments flooding in from across Doha described loud explosions that rattled windows and woke people from sleep. “The explosives woke me up, not the alert,” wrote one resident. “That was so loud.” Others said they were mid-morning walk when the sounds began.

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What Happened: The Full Timeline

At 5:36 AM: Qatar’s Ministry of Interior issued a public safety alert notifying all residents that the security threat level is elevated, instructing everyone to remain indoors, stay away from windows and exposed areas, and follow official safety instructions.

At 5:54 AM: MOI Qatar confirmed via a second public safety notification that the security threat had been eliminated and the situation had returned to normal.

In Bahrain, sirens blared at approximately the same time. Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior activated air raid sirens and urged citizens and residents to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place.

In the UAE, the Ministry of Defense confirmed that its air defences were actively engaging incoming missiles and drone attacks from Iran, stating that explosions heard across the country were the sound of its defence systems intercepting those attacks.

Second National Emergency Alert Issued at 6:47 AM

A second National Emergency Alert was pushed to all phones in Qatar at 6:47 AM on Sunday July 12, carrying the same urgent instruction: the security threat level remains elevated, everyone must remain in their homes and safe places, and stay away from windows, glass facades and exposed areas until the threat has passed.

The second alert confirmed that the situation had not fully resolved after the 5:54 AM all-clear and that a renewed or ongoing threat required residents to return to shelter-in-place protocols.

Iran Claims Strike on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement claiming it targeted Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, one of the largest US military installations in the world, hosting thousands of American personnel and significant air power.

The IRGC claimed it destroyed a fighter aircraft maintenance and repair centre as well as a command-and-control centre at the base.

Qatar’s Ministry of Defence has not confirmed any damage to Al Udeid. The Ministry’s earlier statement said armed forces intercepted a missile attack that targeted the State of Qatar, which is consistent with a successful interception of the projectile before it reached its intended target.

Al Udeid has been central to US military operations across the region and its presence in Qatar makes the country a direct strategic target in the current Iran-US escalation. Qatar’s air defence systems have now demonstrated their capability to respond under live combat conditions.

3 injured, including a child, in Qatar

Qatar’s Ministry of the Interior has confirmed that falling debris from interception operations have injured three people, including a child.

“The injured are receiving the necessary care,” it said in a statement.

The ministry said that following the Iranians attacks, security authorities and Civil Defence teams had initiated response procedures in accordance with approved emergency plans.

Qatar Ministry of Defence Confirms Missile Attack Was Intercepted

Qatar’s Ministry of Defence has issued an official statement confirming that Qatari armed forces successfully intercepted a missile attack that targeted the State of Qatar.

The statement reads: “The Ministry of Defense of State of Qatar announces that armed forces intercepted missile attack which targeted State of Qatar. May Allah protect Qatar, its Amir, its people, and all residents on its land.”

This is the first official confirmation from the Qatari defence establishment that Qatar itself was directly targeted, and that the country’s air defence systems successfully neutralised the incoming threat. The statement explains the loud explosions heard across Doha in the early hours of Sunday July 12, which many residents described as the most intense sounds they had heard, with some saying they were woken by the blasts before any alert reached their phones.

Qatar’s air defences intercepted the missile successfully. There are no immediate reports of casualties or structural damage. All residents are advised to continue following official updates from @MOI_Qatar and the Qatar Ministry of Defence on X until the situation is fully assessed and confirmed as stable.

Why Did This Happen: The Broader Context

This escalation is directly connected to the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran centred on the Strait of Hormuz.

At around midnight GMT on July 12, US Central Command announced a third round of strikes on Iran. The US said it acted after accusing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of attacking a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, which was left unable to continue its journey due to an onboard fire and engine damage, with a crew member missing.

In response to the US strikes, explosions were reported across multiple Iranian port cities including Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Chahbahar, Bandar-e Deyr and Asaluyeh.

This third round of strikes followed earlier US attacks, triggered by Iran attacking ships in the waterway. Iran’s IRGC had also declared the Strait of Hormuz temporarily closed after firing a warning shot at a ship it said was taking an unapproved route.

Adding to the severity of the moment, Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ali Khamenei, pledged to avenge his father’s killing by US and Israeli forces. US President Donald Trump responded by threatening to, in his words, “decimate and destroy all areas of Iran” if any attempt is made to harm him.

Diplomatic channels remain active. Iran’s Foreign Minister met his Omani counterpart, with Oman reported to have proposed two separately controlled routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one through Iranian territorial waters and one through Omani waters.

What This Means for Qatar

Qatar hosts Al Udeid Air Base, one of the largest US military installations in the world. As US forces conduct strikes on Iran and Iran retaliates across the Gulf, Qatar sits directly within the radius of regional escalation. The activation of Qatar’s public safety alert system, and its rapid resolution, demonstrates both the proximity of the threat and the effectiveness of Qatar’s air defence and early warning capabilities.

Qatar also previously condemned the attack on its own LNG tanker Al Rekayyat earlier this month, holding Iran legally responsible. The country continues to serve as a diplomatic channel between regional and international parties, making its position both central and delicate in this ongoing crisis.

For the latest official updates, follow @MOI_Qatar and @MOD_Qatar on X. Do not rely on social media rumours. All official safety communications come directly from the Ministry of Interior.

What to Do if Another Alert Is Issued

If you receive a public safety alert in Qatar, go immediately indoors if you are outside. Stay away from windows, glass facades and exposed areas. Do not go to your balcony or rooftop. Remain inside until the official all-clear is confirmed via a second notification from the Ministry of Interior. Follow @MOI_Qatar on X for real-time updates.

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_{Qatar LNG Tanker Al Rekayyat Hit Near Strait of Hormuz: Iran Blamed, Full Details}

A Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker has been struck near the Strait of Hormuz in what Qatar has condemned as an unacceptable attack on international maritime navigation and global energy security.

The Al Rekayyat, an LNG vessel owned and managed by Nakilat (Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd), issued a mayday call after being hit on its port side near the engine room, with the captain reporting a fire and heavy smoke below deck. A Saudi-flagged supertanker, believed to be the Wedyan, was also reported damaged off Oman’s coast in the same incident on July 6, 2026.

Reuters reported that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards fired missiles at ships in the Strait of Hormuz waterway overnight.

What the Captain Said

The Al Rekayyat’s captain sent the following recorded distress call, reviewed by Reuters:

“Mayday mayday mayday. This is vessel Al Rekayyat, LNG vessel Al Rekayyat. We are being hit by drone on port side, top of engine room. Status: engine room fire and full of smoke. Unable to assess further damage.”

The vessel was loaded with LNG at the time of the attack and had been travelling with its transponders switched off. LSEG shipping data showed the vessel last transmitted its location on June 18, 2026.

Qatar’s Official Response

Dr. Majed Al Ansari, spokesman for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issued a sharp statement condemning the attack in the clearest possible terms.

“Targeting the Qatari tanker Al Rekayyat while passing near the Strait of Hormuz constitutes a rejected aggression against the security and safety of international navigation, and the security of global energy supplies, and a grave and explicit violation of the provisions of international law, especially the rules that guarantee freedom of maritime navigation and safe passage in international straits.”

Qatar formally demanded that the Islamic Republic of Iran immediately cease all practices that undermine regional security, stop endangering global energy supplies, and end threats to international maritime navigation. Qatar stated it holds Iran fully legally responsible for this attack and for any damages and consequences that result from it.

Who Owns Al Rekayyat and What Does It Carry

Al Rekayyat is owned and managed by Nakilat, also known as Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd, which operates one of the world’s largest LNG shipping fleets. The company trades under the ticker QGTS.QA and is a key logistics partner of QatarEnergy, the state energy company that makes Qatar one of the world’s largest exporters of liquefied natural gas.

This attack marks the first time an LNG ship from Qatar has been struck since the start of the Iran conflict at the end of February 2026. Iranian missile attacks had previously caused extensive damage to Qatar’s LNG facilities during the conflict.

The Saudi Tanker Wedyan Also Damaged

A Saudi-flagged tanker believed to be the supertanker Wedyan, owned and managed by Saudi shipping firm Bahri (4030.SE), was also reported damaged off Oman’s coast in what appears to be part of the same incident. The specific cause of damage to the Wedyan was not immediately confirmed, according to maritime security sources cited by Reuters.

Bahri, Nakilat, QatarEnergy, Qatar’s international media office, the Saudi government’s media office, and US Central Command had not responded to requests for comment at the time of the Reuters report.

Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most strategically critical waterways in the world. Approximately 20% of the world’s oil and a significant share of global LNG exports pass through this narrow channel between Iran and Oman. Any disruption to maritime passage here has immediate implications for global energy markets, oil prices, and energy security across Europe, Asia and beyond.

Qatar is one of the world’s leading exporters of LNG, and its shipping fleet transiting this strait is central to global gas supply chains. An attack on a Qatari LNG tanker in this waterway is not simply a bilateral incident. It is a direct threat to the stability of international energy supply.