Qatar aids IS militants in Libya: Media outlets, officials

CAIRO – 29 October 2017: Media outlets this week reported that Qatar has been assisting the transportation of Islamic State (IS) militants from Iraq and Syria to southern Libya.

In early October, the Libya National Army's spokesperson, Col. Ahmed Al Mesmari, announced that Qatar has been supporting IS terrorists financially; he also added that Doha committed numerous crimes against the Libyan people, especially transporting IS militants from Syria and Iraq to Sudan and then to Libya.

Former U.S. Defense Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta also said this week at a conference organized by the Hudson Institute that Qatar has a history of supporting terrorism.

“Qatar, frankly, has had a mixed record,” Panetta said. “We know they have provided support for the Muslim Brotherhood, for terrorism, for Hamas, for elements of al-Qaida, the Taliban.”

Christopher Davidson, a British researcher who teaches Middle East politics at Durham University in England, also stated that Qatar was involved in the transport of weapons and fighters from Libya to Syria in 2012 and 2013, but is now transporting them to Libya.

On June 5, the Anti-Terrorism Quartet (ATQ) of Egypt, the United Arab Emirate, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain severed their ties with Qatar over its support to terrorist groups and having close relations with the regional foe, Iran.

“The role that Qatar plays in terrorism in the country is huge.” Mesmari added. "Qatar is trying to sponsor the extremists groups to gain a foothold in Libya for the extensive coast lines, access to the sea and oil reserves that would be an effective launching pad for terrorism".

Press reports have reported Qatar sending large amounts of weapons and funds to extremists battling the Western-backed government in Libya.

A March 2013 U.N. report pointed out that in 2011 and 2012, Qatar violated the U.N.'s arms embargo by “providing military material to the revolutionary forces through the organization of a large number of flights and the deliveries of a range of arms and ammunition."

Doha has provided more than €750 million to extremist groups in Libya since 2011.

Last June, the National Libyan Army held a press conference to present proofs of Qatar's evil role in Libya; it was stated during the conference that a number of Qatari aircrafts have been landing regularly in Libya to send aid and support to militants in Libya to ensure its destabilization and destruction.