Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani paid a rare visit to Doha’s airbase of Al Udeid.

Located southwest of Doha, the base that holds the forward headquarters of Central Command is the largest US military facility in the region, hosting 10,000 American troops.

According to Qatar’s Ministry of Defense, Sheikh Tamim inspected the Qatari Emiri Air Force and the Combined Air Operations Center for US Central Command during his visit.

The Emir was briefed on the strategy of the Emiri Air Force, especially about the joint Air Defense Forces and command units and inspected a number of combat aircrafts, helicopters and transport aircrafts, in addition to some military vehicles and air military pieces.

During the visit, the Emir met with Commander of the US Air Forces Central Command Lt Gen Jeffrey Harrigian and a number of senior US officers and reviewed the joint Qatari-US military defense cooperation, as well as the mutual cooperation between the two countries in combating terrorism.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain cut diplomatic ties with Qatar in June, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism, and presented a list of demands to Qatar to end the blockade, including the closures of the Al Jazeera news network and a Turkish military base in Doha.

Doha denies the accusation and says the blockade is a violation of international law.