U.S. Defense Chief confirms Qatar will build air force facility at
Idaho, USA
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
announced on Friday that Qatar will establish a new air force facility at Mountain
Home Air Force Base in Idaho, expanding military cooperation between the two
nations.
“We’re signing a letter of
acceptance to build a Qatar Emiri Air Force facility at the Mountain Home Air
Base in Idaho,” Hegseth said during a Pentagon briefing alongside Qatari
Defense Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. “This site will host
Qatari F-15s and pilots to enhance our combined training, boost lethality, and
improve interoperability.”
Mountain Home Air Force Base, home
to the 366th Fighter Wing — known as The Gunfighters — already hosts
more than 50 U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles and 12 F-15SG fighters from the Republic
of Singapore Air Force. While the United States does not permit foreign
military bases on its soil, several allied nations, including Singapore,
maintain training detachments at U.S. installations.
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to strengthen military and intelligence alliance against external threats
The Qatari facility
traces back to a 2017 defense agreement under which the U.S. approved a $12
billion deal for 36 F-15 aircraft, related weapons systems, and stateside
training and maintenance support, according to The Idaho Statesman.
The announcement coincided with
Hegseth’s remarks thanking Qatar for its pivotal role in brokering a ceasefire
between Israel and Hamas. The truce, reached Wednesday, allows for the release
of remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners — marking the most
significant breakthrough in the two-year Gaza war that began with Hamas’
October 7, 2023, assault on Israel.
“No one other than President Trump
could have achieved what we believe will be a lasting peace in Gaza — and Qatar
played a major role from the start,” Hegseth said.
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defense delegation discusses defense ties with Qatari leadership
Last month, President Trump signed an executive order affirming U.S. security assurances to Qatar following Israeli military strikes near Doha. The order declares that “any armed attack on the territory, sovereignty, or critical infrastructure of the State of Qatar” will be treated as a threat to U.S. peace and security.
Earlier this year, Qatar also gifted
a Boeing 747 jetliner to the U.S., which the Pentagon confirmed would be
assessed for potential use as a presidential transport aircraft.
Source: https://www.stripes.com/