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Qatar becomes first Arab country to fly fighter jets over Libya
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March 26, 2011
Original URL: http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Qatar_becomes_first_Arab_country_to_fly_fighter_jets_over_Libya



Qatar participated in a combat mission  to enforce a  over Libya on
Friday, one day after NATO agreed to take command. Qatar is  the first
Arab country to take part in the  operation against Moammar Gadhafi's
regime. The  said two Qatai  flew Qatar's first sortie over Libya 
accompanied by a French jet.

Besides Qatar, the United Arab Emirates has agreed to  send 12 warplanes
to support the international no-fly alliance.  No other countries from
the  has agreed to  join so far. Qatar's combat deployment as the first
by an Arab or Muslim-majority country  thus is of  critical impact.
 Commander Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward}}
Qatar's participation has great  diplomatic importance. Major General
Margaret Woodward, Commander of , stated: "Having our first Arab nation
join and start flying with us emphasizes that the world wants the
innocent Libyan people protected from the atrocities perpetrated by
pro-regime forces".

The emir of Qatar has typically preferred subtle diplomacy  rather than
confrontation, as Qatar is vulnerable because of its tiny size and its
position on the tip of the Arabian peninsula.  Qatar's decision to send
planes is  related to its need to  maintain  its independence from its
bigger  neighbors like  Iran and Saudi Arabia, according to  .

France, the United Kingdom and the United States are among thirteen
states which have so far joined the no-fly mission over Libya. The
no-fly zone over Libya was established by the  on March 17.

== Sources == 
* http://en.rian.ru/world/20110325/163208535.html
* http://www.statesman.com/news/nation/qatar-becomes-1st-arab-country-to-fly-over-1348050.html
* http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/24/qatar-planes-libya-high-stakes



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