US Embassy in Qatar issues shelter-in-place order after Israeli strike on Doha

​​​​​​​WASHINGTON

The US Embassy in Qatar issued a shelter-in-place order for all diplomatic staff, and advised American citizens to do the same Tuesday after an Israeli strike rocked Doha.

"We have seen reports of missile strikes occurring in Doha," the embassy wrote on the American social media platform, X. "The U.S. Embassy has instituted a shelter-in-place order for their facilities. U.S. citizens are advised to shelter-in-place and monitor @USEmbassyDoha social media for updates."

Plumes of smoke were seen rising into the sky after multiple explosions were reported in Doha earlier Tuesday.

An Israeli military spokesman said the army conducted a “precise strike” targeting senior Hamas leadership, without specifying the location.

A senior Israeli official told the Walla outlet that the strike targeted senior Hamas leaders in Doha.

A senior Hamas leader told the Doha-based Al Jazeera television network that the strike hit as a group of negotiators were discussing US President Donald Trump’s recent proposal for a ceasefire and prisoner swap in the Gaza Strip.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the Israeli strike as a “blatant violation of international law.”