U.S. President Donald Trump reacted to Israel’s airstrike in Doha, the capital of Qatar, where senior Hamas leaders were targeted. Trump described the incident as “unfortunate” and expressed regret for the attack on what he called “a strong friend and ally” of the United States.
According to him, the strike was not his decision but that of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Bombing a sovereign state and a close U.S. ally does not serve the interests of either Israel or America,” Trump stated.
He noted that he had warned Qatar about a possible operation, but the information came too late to prevent it. Still, Trump emphasized that “eliminating Hamas remains a legitimate goal, since the organization has taken advantage of the suffering of Gaza’s people.”
The U.S. president added that he had spoken both with Netanyahu and Qatari leaders. He thanked Qatar for its support and friendship, and assured them that such a strike would not be repeated on their territory. For this reason, Trump said he had instructed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to finalize a new defense cooperation agreement with Qatar.
Trump’s statement following the Doha strike reflects his attempt to balance the interests of two key U.S. allies: Israel and Qatar. On one hand, he reaffirmed the American stance that Hamas is a threat that must be confronted. On the other, he made it clear that Washington does not endorse strikes on allies like Qatar, which plays a vital role in hosting U.S. bases and acting as a mediator in regional conflicts.
The promise of a new defense agreement with Qatar signals Washington’s intention to strengthen this alliance at a critical moment of regional instability. It also shows Trump positioning himself not as a leader blindly backing Israel, but as one who seeks to safeguard U.S. strategic interests through regional balance.