Pentagon chief: US does not see the need to find a replacement for its air force base in Qatar
WASHINGTON, July 15. /TASS/. Diplomatic crisis in the Persian Gulf had no effect on the largest U.S. air force base in the middle East located in Qatar, and Washington sees no need to look for a replacement for this object. This was stated on Friday at a meeting with journalists the Minister of defence of the USA James Mattis.
“While any impact on our military operations was not” — said the Pentagon chief, commenting on the sharp contradictions between Qatar and its neighbours.
According to Mattis described the information the military air base of al-Udeid air base near the Qatari capital of Doha, “continues to operate around the clock, supplies are delivered”, no “impact [of the crisis] was not.” “No need to look for alternatives,” — said the head of the us military.
“This does not mean that we do not want to see the matter settled and resolved all as soon as possible. That all worked against the financing of terrorism, not only in Qatar, all,” added Mattis.
Al-Udeid air base is currently the largest US air base in the middle East, it can accommodate up to 120 aircraft simultaneously. In 2001-2014 she was used for fighting the Western coalition in Afghanistan, and in 2016 — for the operation against the banned terrorist group “Islamic state” (banned in Russia) in Iraq and Syria. On the base is about 11 thousand US servicemen. Between it and Hamim an airbase in Syria operates a direct telephone line, used to prevent incidents in the skies over this Arab country.