Hashim Sidek was in Qatar to celebrate his grandson’s first birthday when Iran launched air strikes on the Al Udeid Air Base. - Hashim Sidek, Reuters via ST/ANN
SINGAPORE: Hashim Sidek was in a shopping mall in Doha with his wife, daughter-in-law and grandson when missiles suddenly appeared in the sky on June 23.
The 64-year-old Singaporean was in Qatar to celebrate his grandson’s first birthday when Iran launched air strikes on the Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American military installation in the Middle East.
“Suddenly, some people were running towards the door that leads to the carpark,” he told The Straits Times on June 24.
They went outside, where Hashim said he saw “two missiles in the sky being destroyed by another two missiles”.
“We rushed to our Uber driver’s car that we hailed through the app,” he added. “Many people were outside already, panicking and also looking at the sky to see the missiles.”
He and his family managed to get into the car and went straight back to his daughter-in-law’s apartment, he said.
Hashim, a tennis coach, and his wife arrived in Doha on June 22.
Their son, a pilot with Qatar Airways, is arranging for them to return to Singapore sooner. Hashim and his wife hope to fly home on June 25.
“We are actually cutting our trip here short,” said Hashim. “It was supposed to be for two weeks but we decided to go back at the earliest opportunity.”
Hashim said they were anxious to go home, but are now feeling a bit calmer.
On June 23, Iran launched attacks on the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, in retaliation against the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities on June 21.
There were no reported injuries, and on June 23, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, which had exchanged air strikes since June 13. - The Straits Times/ANN
