Six Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain, have cut diplomatic ties with Qatar over allegations that it is supporting terrorism.
According to BBC, the countries have broken land, sea and air contacts with the Gulf state, which it accused of destabilising the region.
The move is seen as a significant split between powerful Gulf countries that are also close US allies.
Bahrain said its decision was hinged on Qatar’s “media incitement, support for armed terrorist activities and funding linked to Iranian groups to carry out sabotage and spreading chaos in Bahrain.”
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The country has also given its citizens 14 days to leave the country while Bahrain and Emirates diplomats have been given only 48 hours to leave Qatar.
A spokesman of Etihad Airways said the “airline will suspend flights to and from Qatar on Tuesday morning until further notice.”
Egypt also accused Qatar of supporting “terrorist” organisations, including the Muslim Brotherhood, the country’s state news agency reported.
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The agency added that Qatar’s policy “threatens Arab national security and sows the seeds of strife and division within Arab societies according to a deliberate plan aimed at the unity and interests of the Arab nation.”
Saudi Arabia said Qatari troops would be pulled from its continuing war in Yemen.
It accused Qatar of backing militant groups and “spreading their violent ideology” in reference to the state-owned satellite channel Al-Jazeera.
“[Qatar] embraces multiple terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at disturbing stability in the region, including the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIS and al-Qaeda, and promotes the message and schemes of these groups through their media constantly,” SPA, a Saudi news agency, said.
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