US reaches deal to extend military presence at Qatar base: Source
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US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin is welcomed by Qatar's Minister of Defence Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah during his visit to Al Udeid Air Base in Doha on Dec 19.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON - The United States has reached a deal to extend its military presence at a base in Qatar for another 10 years, a source familiar with the matter said on Jan 2.
The base in question is the Al Udeid Air Base, which is located in the desert south-west of Doha and hosts the largest US military facility in the Middle East, the source said, asking not to be identified.
The development was reported first by CNN. The US Department of Defence did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Jan 2.
The tiny Gulf state has played a key role in mediation talks with Hamas and Israeli officials in relation to the war in Gaza and the release of hostages captured by the Palestinian Islamist group in its Oct 7 cross-border attack on Israel
US President Joe Biden has regularly spoken with the Emir of Qatar since Oct 7 on securing the release of hostages held by Hamas and on boosting aid to Gaza, where Israel’s assault since the Hamas attack has killed over 22,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health authorities.
There has also been criticism of Qatar by some in the US Congress over Hamas’ presence in the country. A bipartisan group of 113 US lawmakers on Oct 16 sent a letter to Mr Biden, asking him to put pressure on countries which support Hamas, including Qatar.
Qatar is also a major non-Nato US ally, a designation granted by the US to close, non-Nato allies that have strategic working relationships with the US military.
The Gulf state has also been a channel for US dialogue with the Taliban since the American pull-out from Afghanistan in 2021.
