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.

Udeid Air Base Monday. Qatar said it intercepted the strike and the Pentagon said it was not aware of any U.S. casualties.

The U.S. Embassy in Qatar warned American citizens to "shelter in place until further notice." The embassy said in its June 23 alert that it was acting "out of an abundance of caution" but gave no other details. Qatar is home to the Al Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. air base in the Middle East.

The United States Embassy in Qatar has issued a warning to Americans to “shelter in place” as tensions in the region continue to escalate. “Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend American citizens shelter in place until further notice,

"Out of an abundance of caution we recommend American citizens shelter in place until further notice," the U.S. Embassy in Doha, Qatar said.