In public, Qatar was insisting on the right to defend itself after Iran attacked a U.S. military site in the emirate. Behind the scenes, it was already mediating a truce between Israel and Iran.

The Pentagon already had begun taking measures to strengthen its firepower in the Middle East and protect U.S. bases there.

President Trump has indicated that the U.S. was given prior warning of the Iranian strike. U.S. and Qatari authorities said the missiles were intercepted.