Washington, (Xinhua) The Pentagon has confirmed that a US missile had been launched in Qatar by accident Tuesday but self-destructed later without causing any casualty.
The Patriot missile went off for an unknown reason when a US military unit at Camp As-Saliyah in Qatar was conducting exercises, said Lieutenant General Carter Ham, director of operations of the joint staff.
“The missile self-destructed as it is expected to do and debris was found three or four miles away. We’re very happy that nobody was injured in the incident,” he said.
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman earlier said that the missile landed in an unpopulated farm area.
An investigation into the incident is being undertaken by the government of Qatar, US forces and the US embassy.
Qatar is home to the US army’s Central Command and two US military bases in, As-Sailiyah and Al-Udeid.