DefenseUS Authorizes Qatar Air Force to Establish Permanent Facility in Idaho
The United States has finalized an agreement with Qatar to deploy an Air Force facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the arrangement following a meeting with his Qatari counterpart, Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani.
The facility will support the training of Qatari pilots on F-15 fighter aircraft. The number of F-15s to be based at the site has not been disclosed.
The agreement permits Qatar to base its F-15QA fighters in Idaho. These aircraft are similar to the F-15SG models operated by Singapore.
Qatar currently hosts the largest US military installation in the Middle East, the al-Udeid Air Base. The new arrangement expands existing military cooperation between the two countries.
In September, President Trump signed an executive order pledging US military support for Qatar. The announcement of the Idaho facility follows a period of increased defense collaboration.
Secretary Hegseth highlighted Qatar’s diplomatic efforts in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas during the signing. The training program is expected to enhance interoperability between US and Qatari forces.
Further details regarding the timeline for facility construction and the deployment of Qatari aircraft are expected to be released by the Department of Defense.
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