U.S. Builds Military Facilities for Qatar at Idaho Air Base
According to the English section of webangah News agency, citing Mehr News Agency and the Associated Press, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth revealed plans for the U.S. military to construct facilities at Idaho’s Mountain Home Air Force Base for Qatar. These installations will accommodate a group of F-15 fighters and support training for Qatari pilots.
Hegseth announced this during his meeting with Qatar’s defense minister, explaining that the new facilities aim to enhance joint training, strengthen destructive capabilities, and boost interoperability between the two nations’ forces.
Pentagon officials noted such arrangements are not unusual.The U.S. has previously built similar facilities for other allies and currently hosts a squadron of Singaporean fighters at Mountain Home Air Force Base.
The small but oil-rich Gulf state recently played an crucial role in brokering a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. Doha faced a surprise attack from Israel last month while hosting Hamas leaders who had gathered there to discuss ceasefire negotiations.
Earlier reports by the New York Times indicated that former President Donald Trump signed an executive order guaranteeing Qatar’s security if it were attacked. The order was signed on September 29-three weeks after Israeli airstrikes targeted Hamas officials’ residences in Doha-sparking anger among Qatari and American officials and raising questions about Washington’s promise to protect Doha.
Qatar hosts the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East and regards Washington as its principal security guarantor-making recent attacks from Tel Aviv toward Doha even more unexpected by Qatari authorities.
additionally, during Trump’s visit to Qatar, Doha gifted him a $400 million luxury aircraft intended for use as air Force One-the official plane transporting the U.S. president.
