New Qatari Air Force Facility to Be Built in Idaho

On Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that a new facility for the Qatari Emiri Air Force will be built at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. As part of the agreement, the site is expected to host Qatari F‑15 fighter jets and their pilots, enhancing joint training with U.S. forces. 

Hegseth described the project as a clear sign of the deepening partnership between the two nations. He emphasized that this facility will help increase interoperability, operational effectiveness, and combat readiness. 

However, after the announcement generated concern and confusion, Hegseth later clarified: this is not a foreign military base. Rather, it will be a dedicated facility within an existing U.S. base, under U.S. control. 

The timing of the announcement came amid recognition of Qatar’s role in mediating Israel–Hamas peace negotiations. Hegseth publicly thanked Qatar for its contributions to the cease-fire talks and for working alongside the U.S. and Egypt in reaching the agreement. 

Under the terms of the recent deal, Israel has withdrawn troops to agreed positions in Gaza, and Hamas has 72 hours to free the remaining hostages—48 in total, of whom about 20 are believed to be alive. 

Earlier, President Trump issued an executive order pledging to regard any armed attack on Qatar’s territory or critical infrastructure as a threat to U.S. security—reinforcing American commitment to Doha’s defense. 

A related controversy involves Trump’s earlier acceptance of a luxury Boeing 747 from Qatar, intended for use as Air Force One. Democrats had sought to block funding to convert the aircraft, but Republicans defeated that effort. 

The precise cost, timeline, and operational structure of the Idaho facility remain unclear. Some defense observers note that the plan may stem from prior arms deals—namely, Qatar’s purchase of F‑15s in past years—but many details are yet to be made public.

Source: TIME