Doha: Israel informed the United States in advance of its air strikes targeting senior Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital Doha, a White House official confirmed on Tuesday.

“We were informed in advance,” the official told AFP on condition of anonymity, acknowledging U.S. awareness of the attack before it was carried out. The disclosure underscores Washington’s close coordination with Israel even as the strike drew swift condemnation from Qatar.

The Israeli military confirmed that the operation was aimed at Hamas’s senior leadership, with multiple explosions reported in Doha’s Katara district. The attack has rattled the region, particularly as Qatar home to a major U.S. military base has played a key role in mediating ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

Qatar denounced the assault as a “cowardly criminal attack” and a violation of its sovereignty and international law, warning it jeopardizes its role as a regional mediator. The strike also prompted the U.S. Embassy in Doha to issue a shelter-in-place advisory for its facilities.

The development marks a dramatic escalation, dragging Qatar directly into the conflict and raising concerns about the stability of ongoing peace efforts.