Media: US, Qatar secretly agreed to preserve largest airbase in Middle East
The United States has secretly extended an agreement with Qatar to continue operating the Al Udeid Air Force Base – which is the largest one in the Middle East – for another ten years, TASS reports
The news has been reported by CNN, with reference to sources. It is known that three Pentagon representatives and one anonymous official confirmed to the TV channel the information about the extension of the agreement.
It is informed that the Al Udeid base located in the desert southwest of the capital of Qatar, is the largest US military facility in the region, capable of accommodating more than 10,000 troops. The military contingents of Qatar and the United Kingdom are also stationed there.
CNN noted that, a month ago, during his visit to the military base, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin did not mention the extension of the agreement. The US President Administration also did not disclose that information.
The source also said that the extension of the agreement is related to strengthening the US presence in the region in light of the growing threats from Iranian-backed militant groups in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
