New Turkish Military Base in Qatar Set to Be Inaugurated in Autumn

Turkey's President Erdogan reviews Turkish troops during his visit at the Qatari-Turkish Armed Forces Land Command Base in Doha, Qatar, on November 15, 2017. (Reuters)
Turkey's President Erdogan reviews Turkish troops during his visit at the Qatari-Turkish Armed Forces Land Command Base in Doha, Qatar, on November 15, 2017. (Reuters)
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New Turkish Military Base in Qatar Set to Be Inaugurated in Autumn

Turkey's President Erdogan reviews Turkish troops during his visit at the Qatari-Turkish Armed Forces Land Command Base in Doha, Qatar, on November 15, 2017. (Reuters)
Turkey's President Erdogan reviews Turkish troops during his visit at the Qatari-Turkish Armed Forces Land Command Base in Doha, Qatar, on November 15, 2017. (Reuters)

A new Turkish military base will be inaugurated in Qatar in autumn, revealed Hurriyet daily news Wednesday.

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are expected to attend the opening ceremony.

The writer of the report, Hande Firat traveled to Doha to visit the Tariq bin Ziyad base where Turkish soldiers have been deployed since October 2015.

The military base in Qatar is getting bigger. A new base has been built near the Tariq bin Ziyad military base, said Hurriyet.

The number of soldiers will increase, added Fande without disclosing their numbers out of consideration of “Turkey’s interests and security”.

“I can say that it will reach a drastic figure. Qatar also attaches a great deal of importance to this military base,” she revealed.

Turkish soldiers were deployed to the said military base in October 2015. Ankara and Doha formed a higher strategic committee that same year in order to bolster their relations.

Qatar had also resorted to Turkish security support after the 2017 economic and diplomatic boycott by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt.

Ankara has since boosted its presence at the Qatari base that can host some 3,000 soldiers.



Saudi Arabia Condemns Israel’s Decision to Expand Settlement of Golan Heights

 An Israeli military vehicle rides by the ceasefire line between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria, as seen from Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, December 15, 2024. (Reuters)
An Israeli military vehicle rides by the ceasefire line between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria, as seen from Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, December 15, 2024. (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Israel’s Decision to Expand Settlement of Golan Heights

 An Israeli military vehicle rides by the ceasefire line between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria, as seen from Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, December 15, 2024. (Reuters)
An Israeli military vehicle rides by the ceasefire line between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria, as seen from Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, December 15, 2024. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia condemned on Sunday the Israeli government’s decision to expand settlements in the occupied Golan Heights “as it continues to sabotage attempts for Syria to restore its security and stability.”

A Foreign Ministry statement called on the international community to condemn these Israeli violations, stressing the need to respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Golan Heights are Syrian Arab lands, it added.

Israel agreed on Sunday to double its population on the Golan Heights.

"Strengthening the Golan is strengthening the State of Israel, and it is especially important at this time. We will continue to hold onto it, cause it to blossom, and settle in it," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.

Israel captured most of the strategic plateau from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War, annexing it in 1981.