Qatar says second UAE plane violated its airspace

A second UAE military jet violated Qatar's airspace in January, Doha said on Saturday, prompting a new complaint to the UN, as tensions between the Gulf states escalates.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab & agencies

13 January, 2018

Doha lodged a protest at the United Nations about a UAE fighter jet violating [Getty]

Qatar said on Saturday that a second UAE military jet had violated its airspace, prompting a new complaint to the United Nations.

The plane was travelling from the UAE to Bahrain on 3 January when it flew over Qatar's special economic zone "without prior authorisation", the foreign ministry said.

On Friday, Doha said it had lodged a protest at the UN about a UAE fighter jet violating its airspace on 21 December.

In its new complaint, Qatar said the "repetition of this terrible incident" was evidence of the UAE violating international law.

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash on Friday denied the accusation relating to the first incident and said Abu Dhabi would send an official response.

Tensions have escalated in the Gulf since Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut all ties with Qatar in June, accusing Doha of supporting Islamist extremists and being too close to Riyadh's arch-rival, Iran.

They have banned all flights to and from Doha and cut off most trade links.

Qatar denies the allegations, arguing the bloc aims to incite regime change in Doha.