Oct. 10 (UPI) — The Qatari Emiri Air Force will establish a training facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base in southwestern Idaho, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday.
The facility will host Qatari F-15 fighter jets and pilots, enabling joint training exercises with the U.S. military to improve interoperability and operational effectiveness, Hegseth said.
The agreement was formalized during a meeting between Hegseth and Qatari Defense Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the Pentagon. A letter of acceptance for the construction of the Qatari air force facility was signed by both officials.
“The location will host a contingent of Qatari F-15s and pilots to enhance our combined training, increase lethality and interoperability,” Hegseth stated.
Qatar will fund and build the base at Mountain Home, which currently hosts a Singapore Air Force unit. Specific timelines for construction and operational readiness have not yet been disclosed.
The proclamation follows Qatar’s role in mediating a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas,a contribution Hegseth and Al Thani both highlighted. Al Thani described the Gaza peace effort as a “historic achievement” demonstrating the benefits of international cooperation.
President Donald Trump credited Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt with mediating the negotiations.
The planned Qatari facility in Idaho comes as the United States maintains a significant military presence in Qatar.Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest U.S. base in the Middle East, has been utilized by the U.S. military since 2000, hosting coalition forces and serving as the headquarters for U.S. operations in Iraq.A 2002 agreement formally designated the U.S. military as the manager of Al Udeid base.
