Qatar–Saudi Arabia diplomatic conflict
Part of the Arab Spring, Arab Winter, and the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict

  Qatar (center)
  Countries which have cut off diplomatic ties with Qatar during the Qatar diplomatic crisis
  Countries which reduced diplomatic ties with or recalled ambassadors from Qatar during Qatar diplomatic crisis
  Libya. UN/Qatar-backed first and second government opposed by UAE/Egypt-backed government.
Date2002–present
Location
Middle East and North Africa, especially Bahrain (from January–March 2011), Egypt (prior to 2013), Yemen (until 2017), Syria and Libya (until 2020).
Status

No official relations between Arab League countries Qatar and: GCC members Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain (during part of 2014 and 2017–18); Egypt, Jordan, Comoros, Mauritania, and Yemen (2017–2018). Qatar and the GCC-Egyptian quartet backing rival sides in the Syrian Civil War (map) (2011–present) and Libyan Civil War (map) (2014–2020)

Arab Spring proxy conflicts
Main parties post-Arab Spring

 Qatar
 Turkey[4]
 Somalia
Hamas
Muslim Brotherhood

Support

 Saudi Arabia
 United Arab Emirates (from 2013)
 Bahrain (from 2011)
 Egypt (from 2013)
Libya Libyan HoR (from 2014)[c]

Support
Commanders and leaders
Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Notes:

The Qatar–Saudi Arabia diplomatic conflict refers to the ongoing struggle for regional influence between Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), both of which are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). It is sometimes called the New Arab Cold War.[10][11][12] Bilateral relations are especially strained since the beginning of the Arab Spring,[13] that left a power vacuum both states sought to fill, with Qatar being supportive of the revolutionary wave and Saudi Arabia opposing it. Both states are allies of the United States, and have avoided direct conflict with one another.[14]

Qatar has differences with the Saudi bloc on a number of issues: it broadcasts Al Jazeera, that supports the Arab Spring; it maintains relatively good relations with Iran, Saudi Arabia's key rival; and it has supported the Muslim Brotherhood in the past.[15] Saudi Arabia frames the conflict with Qatar as a subset of the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict due to Saudi Arabia's longstanding concern about the country's relationship with Iran and Iranian-backed militant groups.[16] However, Qatar maintains the conflict is an attempt for Saudi Arabia to reassert the hegemony over Qatar it enjoyed during the 20th century.

The Tunisian Revolution of January 2011[17] ousted longtime president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who fled to Saudi Arabia after being denied asylum in France. Widespread Al Jazeera coverage of the Bahraini uprising of 2011 fueled Saudi suspicions the Qatari government sought to overthrow the Saudi government via soft power. The Saudis then supported a largely successful counterrevolution to the Arab Spring to preserve the monarchy of Bahrain, overthrow the Egyptian democratically elected president Mohammad Morsi and stymie international support for the post-Gadaffi government in Libya. Since the 2013 Egyptian coup d'état by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, there has been a consistent pattern of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt opposing the designs of Qatar and Turkey, who supported democratic Islamist and Salafi extremist groups, particularly in the Syrian Civil War.

Both Saudi Arabia and Qatar mediated through the GCC during the Yemeni Revolution against President Ali Abdullah Saleh, although Qatar was considered more pro-revolution and KSA more pro-Saleh. Both rivals also backed the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a key ally of Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah. Qatari involvement in the Syrian Civil War was initially far greater in 2013 than Saudi involvement, and their backing of rival revolutionary groups benefited the incumbent government of Bashar al-Assad and what would become the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.[18][19] In 2014, the two countries backed rival sides in the Second Libyan Civil War, which continues to intensify, and they had even temporarily severed diplomatic relations with each other. When Salman of Saudi Arabia ascended to the throne in 2015, the two began to cooperate more in Syria and fought alleged Houthi militias in the Yemeni Civil War.[15] Saudi-Qatari relations were seen near a high point when Qatar severed ties with Iran by recalling its ambassador from Tehran in response to the attacks on Saudi embassy there following the 2016 Saudi execution of Nimr al-Nimr.[20]

In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, the Maldives, Mauritania, Senegal, Djibouti, the Comoros, Jordan, the Tobruk-based Libyan government and finally the Hadi-led Yemeni government severed diplomatic relations with Qatar and blocked Qatar's airspace and sea routes along with Saudi Arabia blocking the only land crossing over its relations with Iran, Al-Jazeera reporting negative information about other GCC states and Egypt and the country's alleged support of Islamist groups.[21][22] Qatar was also expelled from the anti-Houthi coalition.[23] Qatar's defense minister Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah called the blockade akin to a bloodless declaration of war, and Qatar's finance minister Ali Sharif Al Emadi stated that Qatar is rich enough to withstand the blockade.[24][25] On 24 August 2017, Qatar announced that they would restore full diplomatic relations with Iran.[20] As the diplomatic standoff reached its second year, Saudi Arabia announced it would build a canal. Subsequently this could turn Qatar into an island.[26]

Background

History

Since he took power in 1995, Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani believed Qatar could find security only by transforming itself from a Saudi appendage to a rival of Saudi Arabia.[27] According to Jim Krane, energy research fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute, "Qatar used to be a kind of Saudi vassal state, but it used the autonomy that its gas wealth created to carve out an independent role for itself... Above all, gas prompted Qatar to promote a regional policy of engagement with Shiite Iran to secure the source of its wealth".[28] Qatar and Iran share ownership of the South Pars/North Dome Gas-Condensate field,[29] by far the world's largest natural gas field, with significant geostrategic influence.[30] To further offset Saudi influence, Qatar is a close ally of the United States, hosting the largest American base in the Middle East, Al Udeid Air Base.[31] Saudi Arabia withdrew its ambassador to Doha from 2002 to 2008 to try to pressure Qatar to curb its individualistic tendencies. This approach broadly failed.[32]

Member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Qatar maintains relatively good relations with Iran. Saudi Arabia often frames the issue as a proxy battle between partners and adversaries of Iran.[33] United Arab Emirates politicians claim that "Qatar invests billions of dollars in the U.S. and Europe and then recycles the profits to support Iranian-aligned Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood and groups linked to al Qaeda. While Qatar hosts the American military base from which the U.S. directs its regional war against extremism, it also owns media networks responsible for inciting many of the same extremists".[34] Qatar also used its contacts to help negotiate peaceful exchanges of hostages for the safe evacuation of civilians from areas affected by the Syrian Civil War.[15] In 2006, Qatar was the only UN Security Council member to vote against United Nations Security Council Resolution 1696 that called on Iran to halt its nuclear enrichment program.[35]

In April 2017, after a 12-year freeze, Qatar lifted a self-imposed ban on developing the gas field with Iran,[36] that would require cooperation between the two countries.[37] According to David Roberts, a Qatar foreign policy expert at King's College, London, if a conflict erupts between America and Iran, Qatar would literally be caught in the middle. "If you are Qatar, you look across the water and you think, when Iran did have the opportunity to take a few Arab islands, they did it." "Qatar needs to have the ability to peacefully go about their business of sucking all the gas out of that giant field." Iran could make that process very difficult.[38] A senior fellow of Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations concludes that "There's a recognition of the general tendencies of the Gulf states to hedge their bets,"There's always a question in the back of the minds of the leadership--how much faith can they put in the U.S.?"[38]

On 27 May 2017, the newly reelected Iranian President Hassan Rouhani held a phone call with Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Rouhani told Qatar's emir, "The countries of the region need more cooperation and consultations to resolve the crisis in the region and we are ready to cooperate in this field."[39]

Arab Spring and Al Jazeera

The Qatari Al-Jazeera is a media organization owned by the Government of Qatar. It is the most popular network in the Middle East, and its news network has criticized principal foreign governments involved in triggering the dispute and been accused of supporting Qatari interests. The Saudi-led coalition against Qatar has demanded that Al-Jazeera be shut down.[40]

Terrorism

Qatar has been accused of sponsoring terrorism.[41] Some countries have faulted Qatar for funding rebel groups in Syria, including al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, the al-Nusra Front,[42] although the Saudis have done the same.[15][43] Both Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been involved in the CIA–led Timber Sycamore covert operation to train and arm Syrian rebels.[44][45]

Qatar has hosted officials from the Afghan Taliban[46] and Hamas. Qatar defends this move by saying it is trying to act as an intermediary in regional conflicts by hosting talks between the Taliban and the US-backed Afghan government in 2016.[47]

On 13 July 2017, Bob Corker, a Republican senator and the chairman of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, stated that the "[t]he amount of support for terrorism by Saudi Arabia dwarfs what Qatar is doing".[48] Former US Defense Secretary and ex-CIA chief Robert Gates stated in May 2017 that he does not "know instances in which Qatar aggressively goes after (terror finance) networks of Hamas, Taliban, Al-Qaeda,"[49] and that "My attitudes toward Al-Udeid and any other facility is that the United States military doesn't have any irreplaceable facility."[50] Qatar hosts the largest American base in the Middle East, the Al Udeid Air Base, which has been used by the United States in its campaigns in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.[31][51] According to the WSJ, during President Barack Obama's first term, some members of his National Security Council lobbied to pull a U.S. fighter jet squadron out of Al Udeid to protest Qatari support of militant groups in the Middle East.[52]

Timeline

2002–2008

In 2002, Saudi Arabia removed their ambassador from Qatar over Al Jazeera's alleged critical stance towards Saudi Arabia. Diplomatic relations were re-established in 2008, after assurances that Al Jazeera would limit its coverage of Saudi Arabia.[53]

2014

During a March 2014 meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council, after which the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain announced the recall of their ambassadors to Qatar,[54][55][56] citing interference with their internal affairs. The situation was eventually defused after Qatar forced Brotherhood members to leave the country eight months later.[57][15][58]

Some economists have interpreted the 2014 Saudi–Qatari rift as the tangible political sign of a growing economic rivalry between oil and natural gas producers, which could "have deep and long-lasting consequences" beyond the Middle East-North Africa area.[59]

2017–2018: Qatar–Saudi Arabia diplomatic crisis

In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Sudan, Senegal, Djibouti, Comoros, Jordan, the Tobruk-based Libyan government and the Hadi-led Yemeni government severed diplomatic relations with Qatar and blocked Qatar's airspace and sea routes along with Saudi Arabia blocking the only land crossing over its relations with Iran, Al-Jazeera reporting negative information about other GCC states and Egypt and the country's alleged support of Islamist groups.[21][22] Qatar was also expelled from the anti-Houthi coalition.[23] Qatar's defense minister Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah called the blockade akin to a bloodless declaration of war and Qatar's finance minister Ali Sharif Al Emadi stated that Qatar is rich enough to withstand the blockade.[24][25]

The Saudi coalition withdrawing diplomatic relations accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism, of interfering with their internal affairs[60] and of maintaining relations with Iran.[61][62] Qatar denies allegations that it supported terrorism, and pointed out that it has been contributing to the U.S.-led fight against ISIL.[63][64] The countries have also stressed the measures are in response to Qatar's violation of an agreement[65] in 2014 to not undermine the "interests, security and stability" of other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.[66]

The diplomatic crisis came after a speech in May given by Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in which he was alleged to have declared support for Iran, Hamas, and the Muslim Brotherhood, along with calling Iran an "Islamic power" and criticizing Donald Trump's hostile stance toward it.[67] Qatar denied the allegations and claimed that hackers had posted fabricated statements on the state-run Qatar News Agency's website.[68] US investigators believe the news agency was breached by Russian hackers as part of an ongoing fake news campaign designed to cause diplomatic rifts among the United States and its allies in the region. The Kremlin denied involvement, and the government of Qatar claimed the hack instead originated in the boycotting Gulf states not Russia after tracking suspicious cellphone signals.[69][70][71][72] Qatar is planning to sue countries involved in the blockade.[73] The sudden economic isolation forced Qatar to turn to Turkey and Iran for food and water supplies.[74][75] Iran offered to use three of its ports for delivering supplies to Qatar.[76]

Arab media claimed that Qatar has secretly accepted to become part of an Iranian Shia sphere of influence that Tehran is trying to create in the Middle East, and which would include Lebanon (Hezbollah), Syria (Assad), and Iraq (Shia-majority government)[77] and that, in a phone conversation with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Emir Al Thani said he wanted the ties with Iran to be "stronger than ever before."[78] Qatar claims Iranian-backed Hezbollah is a resistance movement against Israeli occupation, not a terrorist group.[79] Arab media also claimed that a member of Qatar's ruling House of Thani, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Abdullah Al Ahmed Al Thani, tweeted that Qatar's ruler Tamim has "joined forces with Iran against your brothers and set up terrorist groups and published electronic battalions to beat your opponents."[80] Saudi media also alleged that Iran Revolutionary Guards are protecting Qatar's ruler Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani inside his palace.[81]

The Saudi-led bloc of states issued prerequisites to be met by Qatar before restoring diplomatic relations and lifting the blockade. The thirteen demands stipulated that the country must cut relations, military, and intelligence cooperation with Iran, comply with the US and international trade sanctions on Iran, immediately shut down a Turkish military base, and halt military cooperation with Turkey. It was also demanded that Qatar cut any existing ties with all "terrorist, sectarian and ideological organizations" such as ISIL, the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Al-Nusra Front, and Hezbollah, and must concur with any group's addition to the list of terrorist organizations as defined by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt.[82] Other demands were more punitive, requiring reparations and compensation for loss of life and other financial losses caused by Qatar's policies in recent years, the closure of state-funded media outlets like Al Jazeera, Arabi21, Rassd, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Mekameleen, and the Middle East Eye.[83]

The bloc sought a guarantee that Qatar will in the future align in all matters with other Gulf states, discuss all its decisions with them, and provide regular reports on its activity (monthly for the first year, quarterly for the second and annual for the following ten years). They also demanded deportation of all political refugees who live in Qatar to their countries of origin, freezing their assets, providing any desired information about their residency, movements and finances, revoking their Qatari citizenship if naturalized, and forbade Qatar from granting citizenship to any more fugitives.[84][85]

Upon rejection of demands by Qatar, the countries involved announced that the blockade would remain in place until Qatar changes its policies.[86][87]

2021: Gulf Reconciliation

On 5 January 2021, the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited the city of Al-Ula in Saudi Arabia for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit. Saudi, along with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, signed an agreement to restore full diplomatic relations with Qatar, and to end the three and a half years of blockade. The resolution was brokered by Kuwait and the US.[88]

Initially, only Saudi agreed to reopen its airspace and maritime borders with Qatar, commencing the process of reconciliation.[89] However, the UAE joined in later and announced to open all of its land, sea and air borders, allowing travel and trade with Qatar.[90]

On 16 January 2021, the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Farhan announced that his country will be re-opening their embassy in Qatar, as part of the Al-Ula deal of reconciliation.[91]

On 8 December 2021, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Doha on his first visit since Saudi Arabia and several other Arab allies imposed an embargo on Qatar in mid-2017. Prince Mohammed was received on arrival by emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamed al-Thani.[92]

Countries of contention

Egypt

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (left), who is supported by Saudi Arabia and replaced then President Mohamed Morsi (right), who was supported by Qatar.
Protesters holding the Rabia sign, a sign used by the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters in Egypt in the wake of the overthrow of Mohamed Morsi.

Qatar has supported the Muslim Brotherhood in the past.[58]

Qatar supported the successful ouster of President Hosni Mubarak in February 2011, which was a landmark moment for Al Jazeera. Qatari-backed Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated candidate Mohamed Morsi became Egypt's first democratically elected president in 2012, only to be overthrown the next year by a Saudi-supported military coup led by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, after widespread protests against his rule.

Since the coup, Saudi Arabia sees the Muslim Brotherhood as a threat, as it ideologically opposes the hereditary rule of Al Saud.[58] The government of Egypt has long viewed the Muslim Brotherhood as "enemy number one".[93] In 2011, during the Arab Spring, Qatar supported the Egyptian protesters agitating for change, as well as the Muslim Brotherhood.[94] By contrast, Saudi Arabia supported Hosni Mubarak and currently supports Abdel Fattah el-Sisi[95]

In February 2015, Egypt–Qatar relations deteriorated after the Egyptian Air Force conducted airstrikes on suspected ISIL positions in neighboring Libya following the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians.[96][97] The airstrikes were condemned by Al Jazeera, who broadcast images of civilian casualties.[97] Additionally, Qatar's foreign ministry expressed reservations over the airstrikes. This prompted Tariq Adel, Egypt's Arab League delegate, to accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism. Egyptian citizens also launched an online campaign denouncing the Qatari government.[98] The Gulf Cooperation Council rejected Egypt's accusations and its secretary general regarded the statements to be false.[99] Shortly after, Qatar recalled its ambassador to Egypt for "consultations".[98]

Syria

Qatar was initially the main backer of protests against President Bashar al-Assad, alongside Turkey. As the Syrian government met protests with deadly force, Qatar continued to be the main supporter of the resulting armed rebellion and eventual full-scale civil war. Saudi Arabia was initially reluctant to support the overthrow of the Assad government, despite its reliance on Iran. When Qatar and Turkey became increasingly influential in Syria, Saudi Arabia joined the conflict to overthrow Assad as he became more dependent on Iran and Russia to cling to power.

During Syrian Civil War, both Qatar and Saudi Arabia have supported many Syrian opposition rebel organisations, but also sometimes the same groups. The main Qatari-supported group was the Al Nusra Front links were made to the group via Abu Maria al-Qahtani who actively sought Qatari support and later Turkish support to split the group from al-Qaeda as well as to fight ISIL,[100][101] opposing major Saudi-backed groups Islamic Front / SIF and Jaysh al-Islam. The division benefited not only Assad, Russia, and Iran, but also what became the Islamic State in 2014. In 2015, increased Saudi-Qatari coordination upon Salman's ascension to the throne led to the creation of the Army of Conquest. This Army captured the Idlib Governorate from the Assad government, which nearly collapsed until Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War later that year.

Saudi Arabia later joined the UAE in supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces, which has clashed with Qatar's ally Turkey in northern Syria.[102][103]

On 9 November 2018, After Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani visited Iraq and Iraqi government officials and proposed the creation of a new coalition to counter the GCC's influence in the region consisting of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey as well as Qatar.[104]

Since November 2018, Saudi Arabia and Syria were negotiating a political reaprochement, with the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan as an intermediaries.[105] The talks included potential future cooperation against the Muslim Brotherhood in the region.[106][107] Since 2021, regular meetings between the heads of intelligence services were held.[108] On 23 March 2023, Saudi Arabia and Syria began discussing restoration of diplomatic relations.[109] On 13 April 2023, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad arrived in Jeddah to meet Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. After frayed relations during the Syrian civil war, both nations now seek "a political solution to the Syrian crisis that preserves the unity, security and stability of Syria,” according to the Saudi foreign ministry.[110] As of 2023, Qatar supports the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other islamist groups, while Saudi Arabia supports the Syrian government.

Libya

Leader Muammar Gaddafi was killed following 2011 revolution that saw a Qatari and other military intervention on the side of the revolutionary National Transitional Council. Since the civil war escalated in 2014, the Saudi bloc and Qatar have supported rival factions in Libya.[111] Qatar supports the Internationally recognized government of Government of National Accord, while Saudi Arabia supports the Tobruk-based government of House of Representatives.

Palestine

Qatar has generally supported Hamas, while Saudi Arabia used to support many Palestinian political organizations, including Hamas and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)/Fatah. However, after Hamas won the 2006 Palestinian legislative election, the level of funding from Saudi Arabia dropped, while the level of funding from Iran increased. Turkey and Qatar are now Hamas's biggest supporters. Up until 2011, the beginning of the Arab Spring, Iran and Syria were Hamas's biggest supporters.

From 2016 onwards, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has courted Qatar and Turkey in order to ward off a potential challenge to his leadership by Mohammed Dahlan, who is supported by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt.[112][113]

Yemen

In 2015, Salman of Saudi Arabia ascends to the throne and Houthis take over the capital, leading to a civil war met by Saudi intervention to support the post-Saleh national unity government led by Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. Qatar supported this KSA-led coalition until it was expelled from it during the 2017–18 Qatar diplomatic crisis. Pro-Saudi sources claim that Qatar was also supporting the Houthis government, with financial aid and intelligence aid.[114][115][116][117][118][119]

Other involved parties

Israel

Although Israel is antagonistic to Al Jazeera's pro-Palestinian coverage, Israel however has both secret relationships with Qatar and Saudi Arabia, thus refrained from criticizing either.[120][121][122] Israel's main goal is to cozy up its relations with both nations, seeing them as valuable allies together. This has affected Israel's political stance on its secret relations with both countries, though it is still improving.[123]

Turkey

Turkey has emerged as a major supporter for Qatar in the conflict. The Turkish government under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had deployed troops to assist Qatar deterring Saudi Arabia, as well as food aid.[124] There has been skepticism about the relations between two countries, in particular.[125]

Jordan

While Jordan has some sporadic tensions with Qatar with regard to Al Jazeera, Jordan refused to cut ties completely with Qatar, as the country is dependent on aid from the Gulf nations to function the economy.[126] Public pressure inside also forced Jordan to decide its decision carefully. In 2019, Jordan restored relations with Qatar.[127][128] Both Qatar and Saudi Arabia are major financiers for Jordan, and the Jordanian authorities have long been afraid such tensions could provide more opportunities for Iran to destabilize the region.[129]

Egypt

Egypt supports Saudi Arabia and has cut off official ties with Qatar since 2017, in light of Qatar's accused support for Muslim Brotherhood, and has remained unchanged over the issues.[130]

Iran

Iran has been one of the major supporters for Qatar, though its support is limited. Iran has unofficially supported some of Qatar's policies while Qatar restored ties with Iran.[131]

Kuwait

Kuwait, a similar Gulf country with Qatar and Saudi Arabia, offered to be a mediator in the conflict. However, there has been skepticism over Kuwait's role on mediating the disputes, mainly due to Saudi pressure to cut ties with Qatar.[132]

See also

References

  1. Kingsley, P.; Chulov, M. (3 July 2013). "Mohamed Morsi ousted in Egypt's second revolution in two years". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 30 July 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  2. "UAE, Saudi Arabia aiding Libya eastern forces, blacklisting Qatar for alleged support for other Libyans". The Libya Observer. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  3. "Arab coalition suspends Qatar's participation in Yemen". Al Arabiya English. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  4. "The implications of the Qatar-Turkey alliance". 18 June 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  5. van der Veer P. and Munshi S. (eds.) Media, War, and Crisis: Responses from the Middle East and Asia. Psychology Press, 2004, p. 138. ISBN 9780415331401.
  6. "Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince meets Syria's al-Assad in Jeddah". Al Arabiya. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  7. "Factbox: Then and now: How Arab states changed course on Syria". Reuters. 19 May 2023.
  8. Elumami, Ahmed (5 April 2016). "Libya's self-declared National Salvation government stepping down" via uk.reuters.com.
  9. Mikhail, George (15 February 2018). "Can Cairo talks succeed in uniting Libya's divided armed forces?". Al-Monitor.
  10. Ryan, Curtis (March 2012). "The New Arab Cold War and the Struggle for Syria". Middle East Research and Information Project (MERIP). Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  11. Cook, Stokes, and Brock, Steven, Jacob and Alexander (28 August 2014). "The New Arab Cold War". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 10 March 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. VALBJØRN, MORTEN; BANK, ANDRÉ (1 August 2011). "The New Arab Cold War: rediscovering the Arab dimension of Middle East regional politics". Review of International Studies, Cambridge University. 38 (1): 3–24. doi:10.1017/S0260210511000283. S2CID 13884775. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  13. Mohyeldin, Ayman (6 June 2017). "Qatar and Its Neighbors Have Been At Odds Since the Arab Spring". NBC News. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  14. "5 Arab Nations Move to Isolate Qatar, Putting the U.S. in a Bind". NYTimes. 5 June 2017.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 Barnard, Anne; Kirkpatrick, David (5 June 2017). "5 Arab States Break Ties With Qatar, Complicating U.S. Coalition-Building". New York Times. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  16. Wintour, Patrick (7 June 2017). "Qatar: UAE and Saudi Arabia step up pressure in diplomatic crisis". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  17. Ryan, Yasmine (26 January 2011). "How Tunisia's revolution began – Features". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  18. "Qatar bankrolls Syrian revolt with cash and arms - FT.com". Financial Times. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  19. Roula Khalaf and Abigail Fielding-Smith (17 May 2013). "How Qatar seized control of the Syrian revolution". Financial Times. Retrieved 26 June 2013. (subscription required)
  20. 1 2 "Qatar To Reinstate Ambassador To Iran Amid Gulf Crisis". 24 August 2017.
  21. 1 2 Gambrell, Jon (6 June 2017). "Arab nations cut ties with Qatar in new Mideast crisis". Associated Press. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  22. 1 2 Browning, Noah (5 June 2017). "Yemen cuts diplomatic ties with Qatar: state news agency". Reuters. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  23. 1 2 "Qatar row: Saudi and Egypt among countries to cut Doha links". BBC News. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  24. 1 2 Khatri, Shabina S. (1 July 2017). "Defense minister: Blockade of Qatar a 'declaration of war'". Doha News. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  25. 1 2 Alkhalisi, Zahraa (22 June 2017). "Qatar: 'We can defend our currency and the economy'". CNN. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  26. Vivian Nereim (20 June 2018). "Saudi Moves Forward With Plan to Turn Qatar Into Island".
  27. Fisher, Max (13 June 2017). "How the Saudi-Qatar Rivalry, Now Combusting, Reshaped the Middle East". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 June 2017 via NYTimes.com.
  28. "Saudi Dispute With Qatar Has 22-Year History Rooted in Gas". Bloomberg. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017 via www.bloomberg.com.
  29. Haaretz; Reuters (5 June 2017). "The Qatar-Iran Gas Field Behind the Diplomatic War in the Middle East". Haaretz. Retrieved 6 June 2017. {{cite news}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
    Champion, Marc (6 June 2017). "Saudi Arabia's feud with Qatar has 22-year history rooted in gas". livemint.com. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  30. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., "Why the Arabs Don’t Want Us in Syria", politico.com, 22 February 2016
  31. 1 2 Lendon, Brad (5 June 2017). "Qatar hosts largest US military base in Mideast". CNN. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  32. Roberts, Dr David (5 June 2017). "Qatar row: What's caused the fall-out between Gulf neighbours?". BBC News. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  33. Trofimov, Yaroslav (8 June 2017). "Qatar Crisis Turns Into Proxy Battle of Mideast Rivals". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 8 June 2017 via www.wsj.com.
    "The Saudi-Iran War Comes to Washington". 12 January 2024.
  34. Otaiba, Yousef Al (12 June 2017). "Qatar Cannot Have It Both Ways". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 13 June 2017 via www.wsj.com.
  35. United Nations (2010). Yearbook of the United Nations, Volume 60; Volume 2006. United Nations Publications. p. 434. ISBN 978-92-1-101170-8.
  36. "Qatar restarts development of world's biggest gas field after 12-year freeze". Reuters. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  37. Haaretz; Reuters (7 June 2017). "The Qatar-Iran Gas Field Behind the Diplomatic War in the Middle East". Haaretz. Retrieved 8 June 2017. {{cite news}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  38. 1 2 Weingarten, Elizabeth (25 September 2010). "Qatar's Balancing Act". The Atlantic. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  39. "Iran president holds phone conversation with Qatari emir over Gulf relations". The National. 27 May 2017.
  40. "Why Saudi Arabia Hates Al Jazeera So Much". NDTV.com.
  41. "Qatar was a double agent in war on terror". usatoday.com. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  42. "Gulf allies and 'Army of Conquest". Al-Ahram Weekly. 28 May 2015.
  43. Sengupta, Kim (12 May 2015). "Turkey and Saudi Arabia alarm the West by backing Islamist extremists the Americans had bombed in Syria". The Independent.
    "Qatar Pursues an Independent Foreign Policy that Clashes with the Saudi's Strategic Interests". Eurasia Diary. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
    "Saudi Diplomatic Offensive on Qatar to Barely Impact Anti-Terror Fight in Region". Sputnik International. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
    Kirkpatrick, Anne; Barnard, David D. (7 June 2017). "Terrorist Attacks Pour Gas on Saudi- Iranian Rivalry and Gulf Tensions". Eurasia Diary. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  44. Mazzetti, Mark; Apuzzo, Matt (23 January 2016). "U.S. Relies Heavily on Saudi Money to Support Syrian Rebels". The New York Times.
  45. Norton, Ben (28 June 2016). "CIA and Saudi weapons for Syrian rebels fueled black market arms trafficking, report says". Salon.com.
  46. Siegel, Robert (23 December 2013). "How Tiny Qatar 'Punches Above Its Weight'". NPR. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  47. "Taliban and Afghanistan restart secret talks in Qatar". the Guardian. 18 October 2016.
  48. "Bob Corker: Saudi terrorism support 'dwarfs' Qatar's". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2017.
  49. Helman, Christopher. "Exxon's LNG Ventures Could Be At Risk As Saudis Lead Sanctions Against Qatar". forbes.com. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  50. "Sanctions, leaving military base 'possible options against Qatar'". Arabnews.com. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  51. "For Qataris, a U.S. air base is best defense against Trump attacks". Washington Post. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  52. Solomon, Jay; Malas, Nour (24 February 2015). "Qatar's Ties to Militants Strain Alliance". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 23 June 2017 via www.wsj.com.
  53. Roberts, David (June 2017). "A Dustup in the Gulf". Foreign Affairs.  via Foreign Affairs (subscription required)
  54. "3 Gulf Countries Pull Ambassadors From Qatar Over Its Support of Islamists". New York Times. 5 March 2014.
  55. "gulfnews.com: "UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain recall their ambassadors from Qatar" 5 Mar 2014". 5 March 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  56. "Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain withdraw envoys from Qatar". CNN. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  57. Hassan, Islam (31 March 2015). "GCC's 2014 Crisis: Causes, Issues and Solutions". Al Jazeera Research Center. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  58. 1 2 3 Wintour, Patrick (5 June 2017). "Gulf plunged into diplomatic crisis as countries cut ties with Qatar". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  59. Firzli, M. Nicolas J. (6 April 2014). "A GCC House Divided: Country Risk Implications of the Saudi-Qatari Rift". Al-Hayat. London. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  60. Associated Press (5 June 2017). "Saudi Arabia Accuses Qatar of Backing Terrorism, Cuts Ties". NBCnews.com. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  61. Wintour, Patrick (5 June 2017). "Gulf plunged into diplomatic crisis as countries cut ties with Qatar". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  62. Gambrell, Jon (5 June 2017). "Arab nations cut ties with Qatar in new Mideast crisis". Associated Press. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  63. "Sheikh Tamim denies Qatar has links to terrorism". Khaleej Times. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  64. The curious timing of the Qatar crisis "Shortly after US President Donald Trump delivered his historic address to the US-Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh, seeking to align Washington's traditional Arab allies against Iran and its regional agenda, a new Middle East crisis erupted.
  65. "Qatar must stop changing the subject -- and start changing its behavior". CNN. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  66. Gulf states agree deal to end Qatar tensions, 17 April 2014
  67. Roberts, David (5 June 2017). "Qatar row: What's caused the fall-out between Gulf neighbours?". BBC News. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  68. Gambrell, Jon (24 May 2017). "Hack, fake story expose real tensions between Qatar, Gulf". The Washington Post. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 24 May 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  69. "Qatar Denies Being Hacked by Russia, Accuses Gulf Countries of Cyberattack". CBS News. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  70. Adly, Ayman (20 June 2017). "QNA hacking originated in countries that have blockaded Qatar". Gulf Times. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  71. "Qatar: QNA hacking linked to countries boycotting Doha". Al Jazeera. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  72. Perez, Evan; Prokupecz, Shimon (6 June 2017). "CNN Exclusive: US suspects Russian hackers planted fake news behind Qatar crisis". CNN. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  73. "Qatar to hire Swiss lawyers to sue Gulf blockade states". Al Jazeera. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  74. Westall, Sylvia; Finn, Tom (7 June 2017). "UAE turns screw on Qatar, threatens sympathizers with jail". Reuters. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  75. Clarke, Hillary (11 June 2017). "Iran sends planes stuffed with food to Qatar". CNN. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  76. Kerr, Simeon (8 June 2017). "Iran offers Qatar use of its ports as Gulf blockade bites". Financial Times. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  77. Shahbandar, Oubai (29 May 2017). "Qatar's deal with the devil". Arab News. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  78. "Qatar's emir wants ties with Iran to be 'stronger than ever before'". Arab News. 28 May 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  79. Jaziri, Elia (27 May 2017). "Analysis: Hezbollah and Qatar – a story of forbidden love?". Al Arabiya. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  80. Al-Habtoor, Khalaf Ahmad (7 June 2017). "Qatar: Architect of its own isolation". Arab News. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  81. "Iran Revolutionary Guards 'protecting Qatar's Sheikh Tamim inside his palace'". Al Arabiya. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  82. "Arab states issue 13 demands to end Qatar-Gulf crisis". Al Jazeera. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  83. "Rights groups condemn demand to shut Al Jazeera". Al Jazeera. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  84. Fahim, Kareem (23 June 2017). "Demands by Saudi-led Arab states for Qatar include shuttering Al Jazeera". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  85. Erickson, Amanda (23 June 2017). "Why Saudi Arabia hates Al Jazeera so much". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  86. "Saudi-led group: Qatar not serious about demands". Al Jazeera. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  87. "Saudi-led group vows 'appropriate' measures". Al Jazeera. 7 July 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  88. "Saudi Arabia lifts blockade of Qatar in breakthrough agreement easing Gulf crisis". NBC News. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  89. "Saudi Arabia and Qatar agree to reopen airspace and maritime borders". CNN. 4 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  90. "UAE to restore Qatar trade and travel links 'within a week' after row ends". BBC News. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  91. "Saudi FM Says Embassy to Reopen in Qatar Within Days". The Voice of America. 16 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  92. Andrew Mills (8 December 2021). "Saudi crown prince on first visit to Qatar since Gulf row resolved - Metro US". www.metro.us. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  93. Knipp, Kersten (27 May 2017). "Discord in the Persian Gulf: Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  94. Clark, Grant; Sergie, Mohammed (5 June 2017). "Why Tiny Qatar Angers Saudi Arabia and Its Allies: QuickTake Q&A". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  95. McKirdy, Euan (5 June 2017). "Middle East split: The allies isolating Qatar". CNN. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  96. Kirkpatrick, David (16 February 2015). "Egypt Launches Airstrike in Libya Against ISIS Branch". New York Times. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  97. 1 2 Hussein, Walaa (1 March 2015). "Qatar rejects Egypt's war on terrorism". Al Monitor. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  98. 1 2 "Qatar recalls ambassador to Egypt over ISIL row". Al Jazeera. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  99. "GCC rejects accusation of Egypt to Qatar supporting terrorism". BBC Arabic. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  100. "How Qatar carefully nurtured al-Nusra to sow mayhem". Al Arabiya English. 6 July 2017.
  101. "No, the United States Isn't Dropping Syria's Jihadis From Its Terror List". The Century Foundation. 18 May 2017.
  102. "The UAE has it in for the Muslim Brotherhood". Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. 22 February 2017. Along with their American counterparts, Emirati special forces are said to be training elements of the opposition. They constitute a kind of Arab guarantee among the Syrian Democratic Forces – an umbrella group dominated by the Kurds of the PYD, on whom the US are relying to fight IS on the ground.
  103. "U.S. Seeks Arab Force and Funding for Syria". Wall Street Journal. 16 April 2018. Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. helped pay the stipends for the Syrian fighters the U.S. is supporting
  104. "Qatar proposes to form new coalition in Mid East - report". almasdarnews.com. 9 November 2018. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  105. "With eye on Turkey, Arabs look to mend ties with Al Assad". Gulf News. 22 December 2019.
  106. Leith Aboufadel (7 November 2018). "Syria and Saudi Arabia to potentially reconcile after UAE reopens Damascus embassy". Al Masdar News. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  107. "MBS urged Assad to cut ties with Iran, Hezbollah: Lebanese MP". Tehran Times. 26 August 2018.
  108. "'Times have changed': Saudi Arabia–Syria in rapprochement talks". Al Jazeera. 8 June 2021.
  109. "Saudi Arabia, Syria discuss restoring diplomatic relations". ABC News. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  110. "Syrian FM makes first visit to Saudi Arabia since 2011". Al Jazeera. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  111. "UAE, Saudi Arabia aiding Libya eastern forces, blacklisting Qatar for alleged support for other Libyans". The Libya Observer. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  112. "Saudi Crown Prince Salman threatens Abbas with ouster if he does not cooperate: report". Daily Sabah. 24 December 2017.
  113. "Abbas eyes support of Qatar, Turkey". Middle East Monitor. 26 October 2018.
  114. "How did Qatar back the Houthis in Yemen?". EgyptToday. 3 August 2017.
  115. Mahmood, Ali. "Aden's STC says Qatar is giving Houthis financial support". The National. The Southern Transitional Council said Doha is helping Iranian-backed rebels to buy weapons
  116. "A former intelligence officer reveals Qatar's support for the Houthis to strike Saudi Arabia". Saudi24News. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021. The newspaper quoted the former intelligence officer, who introduced himself under a pseudonym "Jason J," as saying that Doha has been funding the Houthi militia over the past few years "directly" with the aim of attacking Saudi Arabia. The Austrian newspaper stated that the files of the former intelligence man contain accurate details of Qatar's funding over the years for the Lebanese Hezbollah militias and the Muslim Brotherhood, which reveals the seriousness of the role Qatar plays in the region.
  117. How did Qatar back the Houthis in Yemen? Egypt Today:The magizine of Egypt
  118. "Yemeni adviser: Qatar's support for Houthis blatant". 24 June 2018.
  119. Mohammed, Islam Financing and arming, Qatar’s dangerous support for the Muslim Brotherhood and Houthis in Yemen
  120. Rabi, Uzi (2009). "Qatar's Relations with Israel: Challenging Arab and Gulf Norms". Middle East Journal. 63 (3): 443–459. doi:10.3751/63.3.15. JSTOR 20622930. S2CID 144536068.
  121. "Israel-Qatar Relations: Raising Questions of Trust". 30 June 2019.
  122. "Israel and Saudi Arabia: The relationship emerging into the open". BBC News. 3 April 2018.
  123. "Israel and the Gulf states continue a tepid dance to improve relations". 24 December 2019.
  124. "Erdogan: Turkey-Qatar military base serves regional 'stability'". www.aljazeera.com.
  125. "Has the Turkey-Qatar axis brought peace or chaos to the Middle East?". Ahval.
  126. "Jordan downgrades ties with Qatar". Al Jazeera. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  127. "Jordan appoints new Qatar envoy, two years after downgrading ties". www.aljazeera.com.
  128. Younes, Ali. "Inching away from Saudi-UAE axis, Jordan restores ties with Qatar". www.aljazeera.com.
  129. "Jordan: Between the Sunni world's two poles". Thepeninsulaqatar.com. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  130. "Egypt's Sisi says position on Qatar 'unchanged'". aa.com. 18 December 2019.
  131. "GCC dispute pushes Iran and Qatar closer but with caveats". 17 June 2019.
  132. "Will Kuwaiti mediation help ease the Gulf crisis?". Will Kuwaiti mediation help ease the Gulf crisis?.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.