Trump vows to defend Qatar in event of attack, in wake of Israel’s Doha strike

US President Donald Trump has pledged to treat any armed attack on Qatar as a threat to the United States’ own security, according to a document published on Wednesday that says US forces could step in to defend the Middle Eastern nation.

Qatar on Wednesday welcomed Trump’s order, describing it as a milestone in strengthening defence ties and bilateral cooperation, its foreign ministry said.

The executive order – which appears to significantly deepen the US commitment to Qatar – comes after Israel last month attempted to kill leaders of Hamas with an air strike on Doha.

That strike, launched with little advance notice to the Trump administration, caused consternation in Washington given the close US relationship with Qatar, which hosts the largest US military base in the region.

The document was dated Monday, the day Trump hosted Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House and presented a proposal for ending the war in Gaza. Qatar has been a key mediator between the US and Israel and Hamas over the war.

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Explosions rock Doha as Israeli air strike targets Hamas leaders in Qatar

Explosions rock Doha as Israeli air strike targets Hamas leaders in Qatar

“The United States shall regard any armed attack on the territory, sovereignty, or critical infrastructure of the State of Qatar as a threat to the peace and security of the United States,” the order said.