Indonesian in Doha Lives Amid the Sound of Missile Explosions

It has been a week since Jamhari Hidayat began hearing loud detonations from his home, as retaliatory strikes were launched by Iran against countries allied with Israel and the United States. The Indonesian citizen is now living with his family in Doha, Qatar.

Jamhari said there are at least five detonations heard each day. He said the United States military base in Qatar is only about 20 kilometres from his home in central Doha.

Coincidentally I live in a nine-storey apartment. So several times whenever a detonation sounds, I can see the plume of smoke in the sky,” he said on Thursday, 5 March 2026.

He said residents typically receive alerts on their devices from local authorities about an hour before any attack. The notices remind everyone to stay indoors or in a safe place.

Jamhari said the situation is starting to be more controllable, though the Qatari government continues to urge people to stay indoors. Jamhari, who works as an engineer for a semi-government company, has been working from home for several days.

His child, who is still in first grade, is also studying online for now. “The period has officially been extended until next week. The study hours have been shifted and shortened,” he said.

The 33-year-old has been preparing daily logistics and necessities since the war began targeting Qatar. He has chosen to shop online to avoid the impact of the attacks. “I haven’t dared to go out yet. I am just following the stay indoors advisories for now,” he said.

Jamhari chose to spend Eid al-Fitr in Qatar with his small family. However, several friends who planned to return to Indonesia are now hindered by the war’s impact.

He said a friend had to reschedule their return to Indonesia because air routes are still closed. “Those who were due to depart this week will, whether they like it or not, have to refund their travel tickets,” he said.