US Allows Qatar to Establish Air Force Training Base in Idaho

Washington: The United States has granted Qatar permission to establish an air force training facility on American soil, marking a significant deepening of defense cooperation between the two nations.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the agreement allows Qatar to build a military installation at *Mountain Home Air Base* in the state of Idaho. The facility will train Qatari pilots to operate advanced **F-15 fighter jets**.

During a meeting at the Pentagon with Qatari Defense Minister **Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani**, Hegseth described the agreement as “another example of our strong partnership.” He praised Qatar’s government for playing a crucial role in mediating ceasefire and hostage-release negotiations in Gaza under President **Donald Trump’s** administration.

Qatar has been an active mediator in indirect talks between **Israel and Hamas** for several months.

“We are proud to sign this agreement today,” Hegseth said. “The new training center at Mountain Home Air Base will host Qatari F-15 aircraft and pilots, improving joint operational readiness, enhancing strike capabilities, and strengthening technological cooperation.”

He assured his Qatari counterpart, “You can count on us,” though he declined to specify how many Qatari aircraft would be stationed at the base or when it would become operational.

Last month, President Trump signed a **presidential decree** pledging to use “all available means,” including US military power, to defend Qatar in the event of an external attack. The decree was described as a **historic security pact**, comparable in some respects to the **NATO alliance**, underscoring Washington’s commitment to Doha’s defense.

The agreement comes at a tense time in the Middle East. On **September 9**, Israel reportedly launched an airstrike in Doha targeting Hamas leaders, killing five Hamas members and one Qatari citizen. The attack heightened regional tensions and underscored Qatar’s complex role as both a US ally and a mediator in regional conflicts.

Qatar already hosts the **Al Udeid Air Base**, the largest US military facility in the Middle East and headquarters for American air operations in the region. Earlier this year, the base was briefly targeted in an Iranian missile strike following attacks on Tehran’s nuclear facilities.

Analysts suggest the new Idaho base will further cement the **US-Qatar defense partnership**, sending a powerful signal to regional rivals and reinforcing Washington’s long-term strategic presence in the Gulf.