Doha: Qatar has rejected U.S. claims that it was informed ahead of Israel’s airstrike in Doha, insisting it only learned of the attack as explosions were already underway.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said in a statement: “The statements being circulated that the State of Qatar was pre-informed of the attack are completely false. The call that was received from an American official came during the sound of the explosions that resulted from the Israeli attack in Doha.”

His remarks directly contradict comments from White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, who said earlier that former U.S. President Donald Trump had immediately instructed Special Envoy Steven Witkoff to notify Qatari officials after being briefed on Israel’s plan.

The exchange highlights growing tensions between Washington and Doha over the unprecedented Israeli strike on Qatari soil, which has already drawn sharp condemnation from Gulf and Arab states.