Qatar said it has shut down its airspace temporarily as part of measures taken amidst the threat of Iranian retaliation towards US assets in the Middle East.
A statement by the Qatari foreign ministry on X noted the move is to ensure the safety of residents and visitors following similar warnings by the US.
“As part of the State of Qatar’s commitment to the safety of its citizens, residents, and visitors, the relevant authorities announce the temporary suspension of air traffic in the country’s airspace,” the ministry said.
“This is part of a set of precautionary measures taken based on developments in the region,” it added. Qatar is home to the United States’ largest base in the region and at great risk of Iranian retaliation
Earlier on Monday, the UK government also issued a warning recommending that UK citizens in Qatar shelter in place until further notice. The recommendation followed a similar warning the US government to its citizens in Qatar.
Following the US warning in Doha, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said warnings by foreign embassies “do not necessarily reflect the existence of specific or credible threats.”
“We would like to reassure the public that the security situation in the state remains stable,” he wrote on X. “Qatar continues to exert intensive diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region.”
