In the latest development in an ongoing diplomatic crisis in the Arab world, the Saudi Arabian government has shut down the office of the Al-Jazeera news outlet operating there, according to multiple news sources.
Tensions between Qatar and its neighbors reached the boiling point in recent days and, on Monday, a number of Sunni Muslim nations cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing its government of supporting terrorism and taking sides with Iran.
“Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain cut relations with Qatar in a coordinated move,” Reuters reported. “Yemen, Libya’s eastern-based government and the Maldives joined in later.”
Mauritius also joined the boycott on Monday morning.
“Saudi Arabia has closed the offices of Qatar’s Al-Jazeera news network after severing ties with the energy-rich Gulf nation, which it accuses of supporting terrorist groups,” the Associated Press reported on Monday.
In a statement in the state-run Saudi Press Agency on Monday, the Culture and Media Ministry announced it withdrew Al-Jazeera’s operating license in the kingdom.
“The ministry said the move came in response to Al-Jazeera’s ‘promotion of the terrorist organizations’ plots’ and its alleged support for Yemen’s Houthi rebels, the target of a two-year-old Saudi-led military intervention,” AP reported.
“This is no minor diplomatic spat,” Breitbart News reported. “Qatari visitors and even permanent residents were given just two weeks to leave Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE, while their own citizens were banned from traveling to Qatar.”
“The land borders and airspace of those nations was closed to Qatari planes.”
A number of Gulf airlines, including Dubai-based Emirates Air, announced they were suspending all flights to Doha in Qatar — a move that effectively seals Qatar’s entire land border.
Egypt also announced it would suspend air travel with Qatar, effective Tuesday.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.