US Pledges Security Guarantees to Qatar Following Israeli Strike

In a strong show of support for its Gulf ally, the United States has declared that any armed attack on Qatari territory will be considered a direct threat to Washington. The announcement follows last month’s Israeli strike on Qatar, which targeted officials from the Palestinian group Hamas.

Signed Monday, an Executive Order by US President Donald Trump underscores America’s commitment to the Gulf state. “In light of the continuing threats to the State of Qatar posed by foreign aggression, it is the policy of the United States to guarantee the security and territorial integrity of the State of Qatar against external attack,” the order stated.

It further outlined that, should Qatar face aggression, the US will take “all lawful and appropriate measures—including diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military—to defend the interests of the United States and of the State of Qatar and to restore peace and stability.”

The move comes after the September 9 strike, which targeted Hamas officials reportedly discussing a US-led peace proposal for the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Following the incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu contacted Qatar’s prime minister from the White House, apologizing for the strike and assuring that such actions would not occur again.

Netanyahu’s visit to Washington had been marked by initial defiance over the operation, which until then he defended. Qatar remains a crucial US ally in the Gulf, hosting the largest American military base in the