President Donald Trump "immediately directed" his special Middle East envoy to warn Qatari officials about an impending Israeli strike that struck senior Hamas leaders in Doha, the White House said Tuesday.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the U.S. military notified the administration that Israel was carrying out an attack on Hamas elements "which very unfortunately was located in a section of Doha, the capital of Qatar." Israeli authorities described the operation as a "precise strike" that targeted senior Hamas figures, including Khalil al-Hayya and Zaher Jabarin, according to media reports.
Leavitt said the president views Qatar as a "strong ally and friend of the United States" and "feels very badly about the location of this attack." She called unilateral bombing inside a sovereign, U.S.-allied country "very unfortunate" and said it does not advance the goals of either Washington or Jerusalem. "Eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal. President Trump immediately directed special envoy Witkoff to inform the Qataris of the impending attack, which he did," she said.
The press secretary said Mr. Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the strike and also spoke with the emir and prime minister of Qatar, thanking them for their support and assuring them that "such a thing will not happen again on their soil." Leavitt said special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were present for the call with Qatari officials.
Video and photographic footage circulating from the Qatari capital showed a large explosion and smoke billowing over the area where the strike occurred. Reuters and other outlets reported damage to buildings in the vicinity but did not provide an immediate casualty toll.
Hamas condemned the strike and pushed back against the Trump administration’s public comments, demanding that the United States apply pressure on Israel. Qatari officials have previously hosted Hamas political representatives and have played a role in mediating cease-fire discussions and humanitarian arrangements for Gaza.
Leavitt framed the episode as an opportunity to press for broader peacemaking in the region, saying the president "wants peace in the Middle East" and is working with regional partners to achieve it. She also said Mr. Trump credited his earlier term in office with pursuing such goals, remarks she attributed to the president.
The strike and the White House�s account of prior warning underscore the diplomatic sensitivities when military operations of one U.S. partner unfold on the territory of another allied state. Qatar hosts several foreign diplomatic and organizational offices and has been an interlocutor for Hamas in past negotiations.
Officials did not provide further operational details, and Reuters and other international outlets reported that assessments and diplomatic discussions were ongoing. The White House said it would continue consultations with regional partners in the aftermath of the strike.