The White House on Tuesday sought to balance dismay over the extraordinary Israeli airstrike that struck Doha, Qatar’s capital, with a reaffirmation of its support for eliminating Hamas, which it called a “worthy goal.” At a press briefing in Washington, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump “felt very badly” about the location of the airstrike, stressing that it had taken place inside the territory of a sovereign nation that is considered a close American ally.

Leavitt revealed that the administration was only notified on the morning of the operation by the US military, underscoring that Washington had not sanctioned or coordinated the strike. She noted that Qatar has worked “bravely taking risks” to mediate peace in the Middle East, and declared that bombing its capital “does not advance Israel or America’s goals.” Despite this, she maintained that the removal of Hamas, described as an organization that has “profited from the misery of those living in Gaza,” continued to align with US interests.

According to Leavitt, the President immediately directed Special Envoy Steven Witkoff to alert Qatari authorities as soon as he learned that Israel was carrying out its strike. She added that Trump places high value on the US–Qatar relationship and felt deep regret that the operation had targeted Hamas operatives within Doha.

However, Qatar sharply rejected the White House’s claims of advance notification. Dr. Majed Al Ansari, advisor to the Qatari Prime Minister and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dismissed Leavitt’s statement as “baseless.” Posting on X, Al Ansari asserted that Doha received a call from a US official only after the Israeli strikes had already commenced, when “the sound of explosions” was audible in the capital. This rebuke highlights a brewing dispute over communication and transparency between Washington and Doha regarding the Israeli attack.

Further complicating the fallout, Trump spoke separately with key leaders following the incident. Leavitt confirmed that he had a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which the US President pressed for the resolution of both the hostage crisis in Gaza and the ongoing war itself. 

According to her account, Netanyahu assured Trump of his interest in achieving peace “quickly,” a message the President reportedly received with cautious optimism, believing the tragedy could present an unexpected “opportunity for peace.” Shortly afterward, Trump also directly engaged with Qatar’s Amir and Prime Minister. He conveyed assurances of continued US friendship, expressed gratitude for Doha’s past cooperation, and pledged that such an incident would “not happen again on their soil.”

The events underscore the dual challenge facing the Trump administration: managing the fallout of a close ally being bombed without prior consent, while not wavering in its long-term stance that Hamas’s destruction is necessary for regional security.

By acknowledging the gravity of the airstrike’s location while reiterating American endorsement of Israel’s strategic objective, the White House signalled its intent to contain the diplomatic damage with Qatar even as it sustains its alignment with Israel. Qatar’s outright repudiation of Washington’s account, however, indicates tensions may escalate further, with questions mounting over both Israel’s unilateral military decisions and the reliability of American diplomatic channels in high-stakes crisis management.

Base On ANI Report