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Bahrain Orders Qatari Soldiers to Leave | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Bahrain has ordered Qatari troops to leave its territory, a source with knowledge of the situation said.(AFP/File Photo)


Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Manama-Manama ordered on Sunday Qatari troops serving with the US Naval Forces Central Command to leave its territory within the next 48 hours, the same day a deadline offered by each of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain for Qatari nationals to leave their territories ended.

“The Bahrainis told the US general in command of the base that Qatari soldiers must leave,” the source told AFP on condition of anonymity.


”They are still in the base but likely to leave within the next two days,” the source added, without detailing the number of Qatari troops based in Bahrain.

Also on Sunday, Qatar’s Defense Ministry announced that the first batch of Turkish troops have arrived in Doha and that these forces conducted their first training at Tariq bin Ziyad military base.

Meanwhile, a Saudi government source told Asharq Al-Awsat on Sunday that Riyadh remains determined to implement the decision related to Qatari nationals who are asked to leave its territories, but added that the Kingdom would “take into account the humanitarian aspects.”

The source also said Saudi Arabia insists to provide all the facilities and services for Qatari pilgrims.

The source denied rumors that Riyadh was not facilitating services for Qatari pilgrims at the Salwa crossing, the only land road connecting Qatar with the world.  

Separately, the Emirates Writers Union warned its writers, authors and cultural figures from dealing with any Qatari party and to prevent any joint cooperation with Qatari funding entities.