Iran targets U.S. military in Qatar, attacks thwarted

From The Center Square

Iran has shot multiple missiles targeting U.S. military bases in Qatar.

It appears the missiles were intercepted in the air, according to the Qatari Ministry of Defense.

“The Ministry of Defense announced that Qatari air defenses successfully intercepted a missile attack targeting Al-Udeid Air base,” according to a statement from the Ministry of Defense.

The attacks are in retaliation for Saturday evening’s U.S. strikes. At the time of publication, there haven’t been any reports of ground strikes.

Iranian state media confirms the attack in response to the U.S. striking three of Iran’s most prominent nuclear facilities over the weekend.

As reported by The Center Square, Israel maintains air superiority over Iran, likely providing an advantage to allies.

Americans in Qatar were told to shelter in place while the country had shut down airspace prior to the missile strikes.

The Gulf nation sits directly across from Iran on the Persian Gulf, well within close striking distance.

The missile strikes came as President Donald Trump was scheduled to meet with his national security team at the White House.

After Saturday night’s strikes, Trump sent a warning to Iran not to retaliate against the U.S.

“Any retaliation by Iran against the United States of America will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed tonight,” the president posted to Truth Social.

Before the Israeli strikes against Iran on June 12, the U.S. Department of Defense urged military dependents to evacuate from U.S. bases in the Middle East.

This is a developing story.

Sarah Roderick-Fitch

Regional Editor

Related Topics:#TheCenterSquare IranTargestUSMiltaryInQuatar SarahRoderickFitch

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Florida rescues 60 missing kids in nation’s largest-ever operation

conflict / 3 hours ago

War over after 12 days? Ceasefire reached between Israel, Iran

Florida rescues 60 missing kids in nation’s largest-ever operation

Published on June 24, 2025

Todayville

MxM News

Quick Hit:

Florida authorities have recovered 60 “critically missing” children in a two-week operation across the Tampa Bay area. The joint state and federal effort, dubbed Operation Dragon Eye, led to eight arrests and uncovered new human trafficking investigations.

Key Details:

The children, aged 9 to 17, were found across Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties. The operation was carried out with help from the U.S. Marshals, state prosecutors, and local police departments.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier confirmed eight individuals were arrested on charges including human trafficking, child endangerment, and drug-related offenses. Additional investigations are underway.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) hailed the operation as the most successful child recovery effort in U.S. history, declaring, “Florida doesn’t look the other way — we hunt predators and bring kids home.”

🚨 MAJOR BREAKING: U.S. Marshals and Florida officials announce LARGEST single child rescue operation in American history.

Over 2 weeks, 60 KIDS are safe, in custody.

This involved over 20 agencies and 100+ people. 8 people were arrested, charged with human trafficking, child… pic.twitter.com/trkcFMhtmX

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) June 23, 2025

Diving Deeper:

Over a two-week span, law enforcement agencies across Florida joined forces for what’s being called a historic child recovery mission. Dubbed Operation Dragon Eye, the coordinated effort led to the rescue of 60 critically missing children—some as young as 9 years old—in the Tampa Bay region, including Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties.

According to Fox 13, federal and state agencies worked alongside local law enforcement, with direct involvement from the U.S. Marshals Service and Florida prosecutors. The term “critically missing,” as defined by the Marshals Service, applies to minors facing heightened threats such as exposure to violent crime, sexual exploitation, substance abuse, or domestic violence.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier praised the operation’s success in a statement posted to social media Monday. “We will keep fighting evil head-on and bringing accountability to those who harm children,” he said, confirming eight suspects had been taken into custody, with additional investigations now underway related to human trafficking networks.

Charges filed against the arrested individuals include human trafficking, child endangerment, custodial interference, and drug possession.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement described the effort as “the most successful missing child recovery operation in American history.” In a statement, the agency said its analysts and field agents “were proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the U.S. Marshals” and emphasized that “Florida doesn’t look the other way.”

Several nonprofits and local support groups played a vital role in caring for the recovered children, including More Too Life, the Children’s Home Network, Bridging Freedom, Bridges of Hope, Family Support Services of Pasco and Pinellas, and Redefining Refuge.

Dr. Katherine Gomez of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice said many of these children had felt hopeless and alone. “Oftentimes these young people have felt like there’s no one in their corner. They feel abandoned… like they have to look out for themselves because no one else will,” she told WFLA.

FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass acknowledged the emotional toll such operations take on officers, who are exposed to the trauma these children endure. “They have to see everything that happens to these children, and we need to pray for them because they had to take that burden home,” he said.

Glass added that while the operation struck a major blow to human trafficking in the region, the threat remains. “The fight isn’t over.”

U.S. Marshal Bill Berger of the Middle District of Florida warned that traffickers often return to their victims if not apprehended. “If the offenders are not apprehended, they will reconnect with these children. They are, in my opinion, leeches,” Berger stated.

Officials vowed continued vigilance to keep predators behind bars and ensure every vulnerable child is found and protected.

conflict

War over after 12 days? Ceasefire reached between Israel, Iran

Published on June 23, 2025

Todayville

From The Center Square

By Sarah Roderick-Fitch

Hours after Iran launched retaliatory strikes against the U.S. for striking its three key nuclear facilities, President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire deal has been reached between Israel and Iran.

The president touted the deal as a “complete and total ceasefire” in a Truth Social post Monday afternoon.

Trump spent the afternoon with his national security team; it is unclear if the meeting was used to iron out the ceasefire details.

“CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE (in approximately 6 hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!), for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED! Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World,” Trump wrote.

“During each CEASEFIRE, the other side will remain PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL. On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, ‘THE 12 DAY WAR.’ This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will! God bless Israel! God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD!” Trump concluded.

As the president mentioned in his post, the conflict, or war, began June 12 after Iran rejected negotiations to cease its enrichment of weapons-grade nuclear material. Israel launched targeted attacks on the Islamic Republic.

Israel and the U.S. maintained that Iran was merely weeks from building nuclear weapons, thus endangering Israel and the Middle East.

The two countries exchanged a barrage of missiles, with Israel eventually gaining air superiority over Iran.

A turning point in the conflict came Saturday night when the U.S. launched strike s, called Operation Midnight Hammer. The strikes “obliterated” — in Trump’s words — Iran’s top three nuclear facilities, including Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.

B-2 stealth bombers out of Whiteman Airforce Base in Missouri were used to drop several 30,000-pound bunker busters to destroy Fordow and Natanz. At the same time, dozens of Tomahawk missiles fired from a submarine were used to destroy Isfahan.

On Monday, Iran launched over a dozen missiles targeting the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The attack was thwarted, and no injuries were reported. In a social media post following the strike, the president brushed off the attack, claiming Iran needed to blow off steam. He indicated the U.S. received prior notice of the attack, allowing them to prepare.

The ceasefire comes less than a week after the president claimed he wasn’t negotiating a ceasefire between the two countries.