Qatar is accused. Terrorists support?
The unexpected happened: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Qatar. Four states have accused Qatar of supporting several terrorist groups. A coalition of forces led by Saudi Arabia suspended Qatar’s participation in the Yemeni operation. Sea and air communication with Qatar stops.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt break off diplomatic relations with Qatar. Reports about it TASS with reference to a number of official sources in the region.
In a statement on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain, it is noted that the kingdom withdraws from the neighboring state embassy staff. The decision was made taking into account the continuation of Qatar’s actions aimed at destabilizing the security of the Kingdom of Bahrain, interfering in the internal affairs of the country, supporting terrorism, providing financial assistance to groups associated with Iran, as well as inciting in the press to spread chaos in Bahrain. The ministry informed about the closure of sea and air traffic with the emirate in the next day. Diplomatic representatives of Qatar are required to leave the country within forty-eight hours.
In Saudi Arabia, an unexpected decision was explained by security concerns. The authorities "decided to break off diplomatic relations with the state of Qatar to protect the security of their country from the threat of terrorism and extremism," the Saudi news agency quoted in a communiqué from the Foreign Ministry. In the same document, it is noted that Riyadh closes air, sea and land border terminals, prohibits transit, air traffic and the use of Qatar’s territorial waters. All procedures for taking measures are carried out as a matter of urgency "in cooperation with neighboring fraternal countries."
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarifies that the decision to sever diplomatic relations was made in connection with the spread of Qatar’s ideology of the Al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IG) groups, both groups were banned in Russia, and the intervention of Qatar in the internal affairs of Egypt and the countries of the region. The ministry announced the failure of attempts to dissuade Doha from supporting terrorist groups, primarily the Muslim Brotherhood (also banned in the Russian Federation).
Finally, the UAE. In Abu Dhabi, they also decided to close air and sea links with Qatar. "The United Arab Emirates reaffirms its commitment to the system of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf (GCC, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia) in maintaining the stability and security of the member countries, - quoted TASS statement of local authorities. “Because of the ongoing policy of Qatar, which destabilizes the situation and threatens the security of the countries of the region, in the interests of the GCC, it was decided to break diplomatic relations and expel diplomatic representatives of the state within 48 hours.”
What is the reason for such a sudden sharp conflict?
It is not difficult to guess its sources: Iran is one of the reasons.
A new sharp conflict between Qatar and its regional neighbors first manifested itself after the recent summit of the Gulf countries and the United States, which was held a week ago in Riyadh.
As recalled RIA News"Qatar Agency News posted a speech on behalf of the emir in support of building relations with Iran. Meanwhile, at the summit, Saudi Arabia condemned Iran for its hostile policies. The condemnation was voiced on behalf of all the guests. Later, the representative of the Qatar Foreign Ministry said that the website of the Qatar news agency was hacked, and hackers published a speech on behalf of the emir.
The statement about the "hackers" of the Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain did not believe. In these states they insist that the speeches about the normalization of relations with Iran actually belong to the emir.
Comments on behalf of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, by the way, concerned not only Iran’s support, but also Hezbollah, and also Israel. It was also stated that Donald Trump would not hold on in power in the United States for a long time, the newspaper reports. "Vedomosti".
It also indicates that Qatar’s neighbors have already blocked Qatari media in their own countries, including Al-Jazeera.
Naturally, after the rupture of diplomatic relations, disgruntled opponents of Qatar (more precisely, a coalition led by Saudi Arabia, formed for the war with the rebels in Yemen) suspended Qatar’s participation in the Yemeni operation. This was reported "Lenta.ru" with reference to the television channel Al-Arabiya.
Known and wording with which Qatar was excluded from the coalition. As transmits "BBC", a coalition led by Saudi Arabia expelled Qatar from the alliance due to the fact that Doha "practices and strengthens terrorism" and because of its support for "organizations such as Al Qaeda and the Islamic State" and because of its ties with the rebels. "
Qatar’s reaction to a rupture of diplomatic relations has not yet been reported, the broadcasting company notes.
From the most recent news reports on this topic, it is known that the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways, will stop flights to Qatar from tomorrow morning.
"The airline will suspend flights to Qatar and from Qatar on Tuesday morning," the airline’s representative said in a statement RIA News".
Crises of this kind in the Middle East, we add, have happened before, although the matter did not reach such an intensity of passions. It is difficult to assume that they didn’t know about Qatar’s bounty against terrorists of all stripes or shades or knew little about Saudi Arabia. More than three years ago, in the spring of 2014, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE also jointly withdrew their ambassadors from Doha. The cause of the crisis was Qatar’s scandalous statement about the support of Mohammed Mursi (Egyptian President, an elected candidate from the Muslim Brotherhood). True, the scandal was quickly hushed up, the diplomats came back to Qatar. Neighbors did not block air and sea traffic.
The mention of the terrorists was hardly the main reason for the decision of the four, who had opposed Qatar. Another thing is Iran and, in general, Qatar’s very flexible policy, which was stated by the “hackers”.
Some media already write about the upcoming coup in Doha.
Saudi Arabia, notes MIGnews.com, is not ready to make compromises, and therefore chose Qatar as the main target. This target was allegedly shown at the Islamic-American summit in Riyadh as part of the “campaign to eradicate terror”. With reference to the "Saudi press" resource reports on the preparation of a coup in Qatar in favor of the "legitimate wing of the ruling family."
One way or another, a powerful external pressure is already affecting Qatar’s policy.
The Lebanese television channel Al-Mayadeen, close to Assad and Hezbollah, reports that Salah al-Urri, a member of the Hamas politburo, has already been deported from Doha. In addition, in the emirate, Hamas was officially informed that the authorities were “handed over lists of deportation” and “due to external pressure” they are forced to expel members of Hamas. Al-Mayadeen believes Hamas members who are responsible for operations in the West Bank are being deported. They move to Malaysia. True, Hamas itself has denied information about the expulsion of a large number of its members from Qatar: relocation to Malaysia, they say, was “planned in advance.”
In connection with the collective accusation of Qatar in support of entire terrorist networks, we should add, we should expect from Saudi Arabia and its closest neighbors and allies of the active struggle against IG, Al Qaeda and other groups warmed to Doha. And at the same time the fight with Doha itself.
Isn't such a zealous confrontation between the Saudis and terrorism related to the recent visit of Mr. Trump to the region? By the way, Mr. Trump doesn't like Iran either. And even considers it a terrorist state.
Mohammed Bin Abdel Rahman Al-Thani, Foreign Minister of Qatar
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt break off diplomatic relations with Qatar. Reports about it TASS with reference to a number of official sources in the region.
In a statement on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain, it is noted that the kingdom withdraws from the neighboring state embassy staff. The decision was made taking into account the continuation of Qatar’s actions aimed at destabilizing the security of the Kingdom of Bahrain, interfering in the internal affairs of the country, supporting terrorism, providing financial assistance to groups associated with Iran, as well as inciting in the press to spread chaos in Bahrain. The ministry informed about the closure of sea and air traffic with the emirate in the next day. Diplomatic representatives of Qatar are required to leave the country within forty-eight hours.
In Saudi Arabia, an unexpected decision was explained by security concerns. The authorities "decided to break off diplomatic relations with the state of Qatar to protect the security of their country from the threat of terrorism and extremism," the Saudi news agency quoted in a communiqué from the Foreign Ministry. In the same document, it is noted that Riyadh closes air, sea and land border terminals, prohibits transit, air traffic and the use of Qatar’s territorial waters. All procedures for taking measures are carried out as a matter of urgency "in cooperation with neighboring fraternal countries."
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarifies that the decision to sever diplomatic relations was made in connection with the spread of Qatar’s ideology of the Al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IG) groups, both groups were banned in Russia, and the intervention of Qatar in the internal affairs of Egypt and the countries of the region. The ministry announced the failure of attempts to dissuade Doha from supporting terrorist groups, primarily the Muslim Brotherhood (also banned in the Russian Federation).
Finally, the UAE. In Abu Dhabi, they also decided to close air and sea links with Qatar. "The United Arab Emirates reaffirms its commitment to the system of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf (GCC, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia) in maintaining the stability and security of the member countries, - quoted TASS statement of local authorities. “Because of the ongoing policy of Qatar, which destabilizes the situation and threatens the security of the countries of the region, in the interests of the GCC, it was decided to break diplomatic relations and expel diplomatic representatives of the state within 48 hours.”
What is the reason for such a sudden sharp conflict?
It is not difficult to guess its sources: Iran is one of the reasons.
A new sharp conflict between Qatar and its regional neighbors first manifested itself after the recent summit of the Gulf countries and the United States, which was held a week ago in Riyadh.
As recalled RIA News"Qatar Agency News posted a speech on behalf of the emir in support of building relations with Iran. Meanwhile, at the summit, Saudi Arabia condemned Iran for its hostile policies. The condemnation was voiced on behalf of all the guests. Later, the representative of the Qatar Foreign Ministry said that the website of the Qatar news agency was hacked, and hackers published a speech on behalf of the emir.
The statement about the "hackers" of the Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain did not believe. In these states they insist that the speeches about the normalization of relations with Iran actually belong to the emir.
Comments on behalf of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, by the way, concerned not only Iran’s support, but also Hezbollah, and also Israel. It was also stated that Donald Trump would not hold on in power in the United States for a long time, the newspaper reports. "Vedomosti".
It also indicates that Qatar’s neighbors have already blocked Qatari media in their own countries, including Al-Jazeera.
Naturally, after the rupture of diplomatic relations, disgruntled opponents of Qatar (more precisely, a coalition led by Saudi Arabia, formed for the war with the rebels in Yemen) suspended Qatar’s participation in the Yemeni operation. This was reported "Lenta.ru" with reference to the television channel Al-Arabiya.
Known and wording with which Qatar was excluded from the coalition. As transmits "BBC", a coalition led by Saudi Arabia expelled Qatar from the alliance due to the fact that Doha "practices and strengthens terrorism" and because of its support for "organizations such as Al Qaeda and the Islamic State" and because of its ties with the rebels. "
Qatar’s reaction to a rupture of diplomatic relations has not yet been reported, the broadcasting company notes.
From the most recent news reports on this topic, it is known that the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways, will stop flights to Qatar from tomorrow morning.
"The airline will suspend flights to Qatar and from Qatar on Tuesday morning," the airline’s representative said in a statement RIA News".
Crises of this kind in the Middle East, we add, have happened before, although the matter did not reach such an intensity of passions. It is difficult to assume that they didn’t know about Qatar’s bounty against terrorists of all stripes or shades or knew little about Saudi Arabia. More than three years ago, in the spring of 2014, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE also jointly withdrew their ambassadors from Doha. The cause of the crisis was Qatar’s scandalous statement about the support of Mohammed Mursi (Egyptian President, an elected candidate from the Muslim Brotherhood). True, the scandal was quickly hushed up, the diplomats came back to Qatar. Neighbors did not block air and sea traffic.
The mention of the terrorists was hardly the main reason for the decision of the four, who had opposed Qatar. Another thing is Iran and, in general, Qatar’s very flexible policy, which was stated by the “hackers”.
Some media already write about the upcoming coup in Doha.
Saudi Arabia, notes MIGnews.com, is not ready to make compromises, and therefore chose Qatar as the main target. This target was allegedly shown at the Islamic-American summit in Riyadh as part of the “campaign to eradicate terror”. With reference to the "Saudi press" resource reports on the preparation of a coup in Qatar in favor of the "legitimate wing of the ruling family."
One way or another, a powerful external pressure is already affecting Qatar’s policy.
The Lebanese television channel Al-Mayadeen, close to Assad and Hezbollah, reports that Salah al-Urri, a member of the Hamas politburo, has already been deported from Doha. In addition, in the emirate, Hamas was officially informed that the authorities were “handed over lists of deportation” and “due to external pressure” they are forced to expel members of Hamas. Al-Mayadeen believes Hamas members who are responsible for operations in the West Bank are being deported. They move to Malaysia. True, Hamas itself has denied information about the expulsion of a large number of its members from Qatar: relocation to Malaysia, they say, was “planned in advance.”
In connection with the collective accusation of Qatar in support of entire terrorist networks, we should add, we should expect from Saudi Arabia and its closest neighbors and allies of the active struggle against IG, Al Qaeda and other groups warmed to Doha. And at the same time the fight with Doha itself.
Isn't such a zealous confrontation between the Saudis and terrorism related to the recent visit of Mr. Trump to the region? By the way, Mr. Trump doesn't like Iran either. And even considers it a terrorist state.
Observed and commented on Oleg Chuvakin
- especially for topwar.ru
- especially for topwar.ru
- EPA / STR
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