Qatar to Establish Air Force Facility in Idaho, U.S. Defence Secretary Confirms

Reuters

U.S. Defenve Secretary Pete Hegseth & Qatari Defence Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani.

The United States has finalised an agreement allowing Qatar to construct an air force facility in Idaho, U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Friday.

The facility, to be located at the Mountain Home Airbase in the north-western state, will serve as a training centre for Qatari pilots operating F-15 fighter jets.

“It’s just another example of our partnership,” Hegseth said during a meeting with Qatar’s Defence Minister, Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, at the Pentagon.

Hegseth praised Qatar for playing a “substantial role” in efforts led by U.S. President Donald Trump to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and facilitate the return of hostages.

Qatar, alongside Egypt and Türkiye, has been a key mediator in months of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

“I’m proud that today we’re signing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatari Emiri Air Force facility at the Mountain Home Airbase in Idaho,” Hegseth said. “The location will host a contingent of Qatari F-15s and pilots to enhance our combined training, increase lethality, and strengthen interoperability. It’s yet another demonstration of our enduring partnership.”

The Pentagon did not specify how many Qatari aircraft would be stationed at the facility or when it would become operational.

Last month, President Trump signed an executive order pledging to use all necessary measures — including U.S. military force — to defend Qatar, marking an extraordinary security arrangement between Washington and one of its closest Arab allies.

The move followed Israeli air strikes in Doha on 9 September targeting Hamas leaders, which killed several lower-level members of the Palestinian group and a Qatari security official.

Qatar hosts the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East, al-Udeid Airbase, which serves as the command centre for all U.S. air operations in the region. The base was attacked earlier this year by Iran in retaliation for American strikes on its nuclear facilities.

Source: BBC



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