CNBC: Qatar suggests Gulf crisis hurts fight against Daesh

The siege imposed on Qatar by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain is undermining the efforts against Daesh, Qatari foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani said yesterday.

Speaking to CNBC, Al Thani told the American satellite channel that the measures taken by the blockading countries in dispute with Doha had damaged the US-led campaign against Daesh.

Qatar is part of the US coalition fighting against Daesh, but its ability to support the campaign has been hindered by the Saudi-led blockade since 5 June. Qatar’s neighbours cut diplomatic and trade ties and suspended air and cargo routes with the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas. The four countries say Qatar supports Iran, the regional rival, as well as radical Islamists, charges Doha denies.

Read: Qatar suggests Gulf crisis hurts fight against Daesh

Al-Thani explained that most of Qatar’s supplies of medicine and food, some of which go to the US air base in the country – the largest in the region – usually come across its land border with Saudi Arabia. The closure of the air space hampered Qatari aircrafts’ ability to provide logistical support to the base, as they were forced to reroute flights towards Iran.

The official mentioned that the Qatari forces involved in US-led activities against Daesh or operating with the US-based Fifth Fleet were excluded from operations.

He said his country is seeking to resolve the crisis through dialogue but Saudi Arabia wants to destabilise Qatar. “They want escalation and they think of regime change and other things,” said Al Thani.