The Doha Strike: Middle East, Russia, and the Collapse of U.S. Security Guarantees

On the night of September 9, 2025, Israeli jets struck the Qatari capital of Doha, targeting Hamas leaders meeting under the protection of U.S. security guarantees. The explosion shattered not only a villa in Leqtaifiya but also the illusion of invulnerability that Gulf rulers had trusted for decades.

The Doha Strike examines this watershed moment in Middle Eastern history. It argues that the strike was not merely a tactical act against Hamas—it was a strategic turning point that exposed the cracks in America’s shield, undermined Israel’s campaign for normalization, emboldened Iran, and opened the door for Russia and China to expand their influence in the region.

Through a narrative that blends history, geopolitics, and analysis, the book traces:

• The road to Doha and the strike itself.

• The shattering of Gulf confidence in U.S. protection.

• Russia’s rapid exploitation of the crisis.

• China’s quiet but steady rise as the region’s economic partner.

• The renewed assertiveness of Iran and its proxies.

• The fragility of Israel’s new regional partnerships.

• The scenarios that may define the future of a multipolar Middle East.

Like Suez in 1956 or Iraq in 2003, Doha 2025 will be remembered as a moment when the old order gave way to the new. This book captures that moment in full, offering a compelling account of how a single strike transformed the politics of an entire region.