Qatar warns military on ‘highest alert level’ amid diplomatic tensions

DOHA, Qatar (Kurdistan24) – Qatar on Thursday warned its Gulf neighbors that its military is on “high alert” amid escalating political tensions in the region.

The Qatari government wrote to leaders in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates stating it is ready to respond to any military threat to its waters.

Qatar has also brought 16 Leopard tanks out of storage in its capital Doha, according to reports by CNN.

The reaction comes after Saudi Arabia issued a statement demanding Qatar end its ties with the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas.

Saudi Arabia and several other nations severed diplomatic ties with Doha on Monday, accusing the country of supporting terrorism.

Qatar denied assertions made against it, labeling the decision from its neighboring countries to cut ties “unjustified” and with “no basis in fact.”

The Arab countries have since closed their air, sea, and land links with Qatar, as well as ordering Qatari citizens out within 14 days.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump suggested hosting a meeting at the White House to encourage dialogue between the conflicting nations.

The response comes after he initially expressed support for the Saudi-led isolation of Qatar in a series of tweets.

On Wednesday, Trump called his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani following talks with senior UAE and Saudi officials.

In the phone call, President Trump offered “to help the parties resolve their differences.”

Qatar hosts the Al-Udeid military base, the largest US airbase in the Middle East, home to nearly 10,000 troops.

The airbase is significant to the ongoing US-led fight against the Islamic State.

Editing by Ava Homa