Qatar to Construct Air Force Facility in Idaho

The US Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has announced that an agreement has been finalized to allow Qatar to establish an air force facility in Idaho. The facility at the Mountain Home Airbase in Idaho will train Qatari pilots to fly F-15 fighter jets.

During a meeting at the Pentagon, Hegseth praised Qatar for its role in President Donald Trump's efforts to secure a Gaza ceasefire and hostage return deal. Qatar, along with Egypt and Turkey, has been actively involved in mediating between Israel and Hamas.

Hegseth expressed pride in signing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatari Emiri Air Force Facility in Idaho. He assured Qatar's counterpart, Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, that the partnership between the two countries is strong.

The exact number of Qatari F-15s to be stationed at the Idaho facility and the operational timeline were not disclosed by Hegseth. President Trump recently signed an executive order committing to defend Qatar using all available measures, including the US military.

Qatar hosts the largest US military base in the Middle East, al-Udeid, which was targeted by Iran earlier this year in response to American strikes on its nuclear facilities. Trump's defense pact with Qatar could have significant implications for the region.