The Pentagon has admitted that an Iranian ballistic missile hit the "Al Udeid" air base in Qatar in June during an Iranian attack, after President Donald Trump downplayed the attack, the Associated Press reported.
The statement by Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell followed the release by the AP today of satellite images showing damage from the attack.
Parnell said the strike "caused minimal damage to equipment and structures at the base."
He added: "Al Udeid Air Base" remains fully operational and capable of carrying out its mission, together with our Qatari partners, to ensure security and stability in the region."
Satellite imagery from Planet Labs PBC shows the geodesic dome visible at Al Udeid Air Base on the morning of June 23, just hours before the attack. Images taken on June 25 and each subsequent day show the dome gone, with some damage visible to a nearby building. The rest of the base appears largely unaffected in the images.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has downplayed concerns about relations with Washington's key ally Japan, saying there is no "drama or division", even as the Japanese prime minister has spoken of the need for Tokyo to break away from its dependence on the US, Reuters reported.
In his remarks to reporters, Rubio also disputed reports of US pressure on Japan to significantly increase its defence spending, saying that while Washington is "encouraging" Tokyo investing in certain capabilities is not the same as "insisting".
"It's not so much about the amount of money as about certain things they can do," he said after attending a regional meeting in Malaysia.
Last month, Japanese media reported that the Trump administration was demanding that Japan and other Asian allies increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, in line with requirements for NATO members, Reuters recalls.
In information from "Financial Times" last month, Japan said it had canceled its annual defense and foreign ministers' meeting with the United States after Washington urged Tokyo to increase defense spending beyond what it had previously requested.
This week, President Donald Trump further upset Japan by announcing a 25% tariff on Japanese imports starting August 1 as part of his global strategy.
On Thursday, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Japan needed to wean itself off its dependence on the United States for security, food and energy.
When asked about Ishiba's remarks, Rubio said the United States has a "very strong and very good relationship with Japan, and that's not going to change."
"Anyone who's looking for drama or division there ... shouldn't be doing it because the truth is, our relationship with Japan is very solid."
He said the comment by Ishiba should not be viewed negatively.
"The idea that the Japanese military will become more capable is not something we would be offended by; it is something that would actually be encouraged," he said.