US military lauds Qatar, says flights unaffected by Gulf rift
The US military has a strong presence in Qatar in the form of an airbase in the outskirts of Doha.
On Monday, the day the Gulf crisis broke, the US military lauded Qatar for its ‘enduring commitment to regional security’ and said US flights out of the air base were unaffected by the crisis, reported The Peninsula.
“We’ve seen no impact to our operations and all flights continue as planned,” Lieutenant Colonel Damien Pickart, a spokesman at US Air Forces Central Command, said.
“The United States and the (anti-Islamic State, US-led) coalition are grateful to the Qataris for their longstanding support of our presence and their enduring commitment to regional security.”
Meanwhile, the Pentagon also said US military operations from the airbase in Qatar was unaffected by the rift between Qatar and some of its Gulf neighbours.
“US military aircraft continue to conduct missions in support of ongoing operations in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan,” said Marine Corps Major Adrian JT Rankine-Galloway, according to Qatar Tribune.
“The United States and the coalition are grateful to the Qataris for their longstanding support of our presence and their enduring commitment to regional security. We’ve no plans to change our posture in Qatar,” he continued.
The Pentagon also urged ‘all our partners in the region to reduce tensions and work towards common solutions that enable regional security.’
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also called on Gulf states to stay united and work out their differences after several nations cut diplomatic ties with Qatar.
Photo courtesy: The Peninsula
I am willing to visit all the states of our neighbours if a sponsor gives me visa, tickets & expenses just to prove that we love all AGCC nations .... We owe you our past, our childrens future also ....... we depend on you for the jobs ......... we always look towards Gulf for earning our livelihood ............ we wish there be peace ................
@Molten Sorry to burst your delicate little rainbow colored bubble, but you are absolutely wrong !!
Saudi bully Arabia has always been fomenting instability in this region and UAE has decided to be the tail of his big brother.
I'm glad that Qatar has its own brand of foreign policy.
B52 (y)..
My inner voice says there is no gap between all GCC states even today ............