Qatar signs $12bn deal to buy F-15 jets from US

Qatar's Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday the country signed a deal to buy F-15 fighter jets from the United States for $12 billion. US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Qatari Minister of State for Defense Affairs Khalid al-Attiyah were set to meet Wednesday to seal the agreement.

This is notable that Trump on Friday accused Qatar of being a "high-level" sponsor of terrorism, potentially hindering the US Department of State's efforts to ease heightening tensions and a blockade of the Gulf nation by Arab states and others. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and a number of other countries severed relations with Qatar earlier this month, accusing it of supporting armed groups and Iran - allegations Qatar has repeatedly rejected.

In November, the United States approved possible sale of up to 72 F-15QA aircraft to Qatar for $21.1bn. Boeing Co is the prime contractor on the fighter jet sale to the Middle East nation.

The F-15 or McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is an American twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter aircraft designed by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) to gain and maintain air supremacy in aerial combat. Following reviews of proposals, the United States Air Force selected McDonnell Douglas' design in 1967 to meet the service's need for a dedicated air superiority fighter. The Eagle first flew in July 1972, and entered service in 1976. It is among the most successful modern fighters, with over 100 victories and no losses in aerial combat, with the majority of the kills scored by the Israeli Air Force.

In another development, two US Navy vessels arrived in Doha on Wednesday for a joint exercise with Qatar's fleet.

The American boats arrived at Hamad Port south of Doha "to participate in a joint exercise with the Qatari Emiri Navy," according to a Ministry of Defence statement posted on QNA.

Qatar hosts the biggest US military base in the Middle East with 11,000 troops deployed to or assigned to Al-Udeid Air Base also known as Abu Nakhlah Airport. More than 100 aircraft operate from there.

Following joint military operations during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, Qatar and the United States concluded a Defense Cooperation Agreement that has been subsequently expanded. In 1996, Qatar built Al Udeid Air Base at the cost of more than $1 billion. The U.S. first used the then secret base in late September 2001, when the Air Force needed to get aircraft in position for its operations in Afghanistan.