At least six people have been confirmed dead after a Qatari military helicopter crashed into the country’s territorial waters following what authorities described as a “technical malfunction.”
According to Qatar’s Interior Ministry, seven individuals were on board the aircraft at the time of the incident.
While six bodies have been recovered, search and rescue operations are still ongoing to locate the remaining missing person.
The ministry, in a statement issued on Sunday, said specialised teams had been deployed to the crash site, but did not disclose the identities of those on board or provide further details surrounding the incident.
Earlier, Qatar’s Defence Ministry disclosed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the helicopter developed a fault during a routine mission, leading to the crash within the country’s territorial waters.
Authorities have yet to determine the precise cause of the malfunction, and there has been no indication that the crash was linked to any form of external or hostile attack.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions across the Middle East region, following recent military escalations involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Qatar has reportedly faced repeated drone and missile threats since the escalation began.
However, officials have not connected the helicopter crash to the ongoing regional security situation.
The media had reported that nearly 100 people were injured following a barrage of Iranian ballistic missile strikes on southern Israel, with projectiles hitting the cities of Arad and Dimona after air defence systems reportedly failed to intercept at least two missiles.
Among the victims were a 12-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl, both said to be in critical condition, as emergency responders battled to manage the aftermath of the attacks.
Local reports indicated that at least 27 people were wounded in Dimona, including a teenager who suffered severe injuries from shrapnel. In Arad, no fewer than 68 persons were injured, with 10 in serious condition and 14 moderately hurt, while others sustained minor injuries.
A mass-casualty situation was declared at a hospital in Beersheba as rescue teams responded to multiple strike locations.
Chief executive of Israel’s emergency service, Magen David Adom, Eli Bin, described the scale of destruction, warning that some victims might still be trapped.
He said the situation was “an event of enormous magnitude,” adding that there were concerns about individuals still unaccounted for.
Preliminary reports suggested that one of the missiles, believed to carry a heavy conventional warhead, struck between residential buildings, causing significant structural damage and igniting fires in nearby homes.
Footage circulating online showed the moment of impact occurring seconds after warning sirens sounded, although the timing has not been independently verified.
The Israeli military confirmed it has launched an investigation into the apparent failure of its air defence system to intercept the missile that struck Arad.
“The air defence systems operated but did not intercept the missile. We will investigate the incident and learn from it. This is not a special or unfamiliar type of munition,” said Israeli Defence Forces spokesperson, Effie Defrin.
He added, “Our hearts are with the residents of Arad and Dimona tonight.”
