Airforces

http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #359 FEBRUARY 2018 // 61

The Qatar Emiri Air Force presented a glimpse of its growing

ambitions during celebrations marking the Gulf country’s national

day. Alexander Golz reports from Doha.

political tensions with its neighbours since

mid-2017. Immediately before this, Qatar had

been in a military coalition alongside Bahrain,

Jordan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

Together, these were part of the Saudi-led

military mission in Yemen – Operation Decisive

Storm – charged with supporting the local

president and his internationally recognised

government against the Houthi rebels (see

Air war in Yemen, September 2017, p96-

97). The latter are alleged to be supported

by Iran and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah.

For years, relations between Qatar and

neighbouring Saudi Arabia have been strained.

However, the situation escalated after the ruling

Emir of Qatar congratulated Iranian President

Hassan Rouhani on his re-election at the end of

A force facing

the future