New batch of Turkish troops arrives in Qatar

Ankara July 20 (IANS) A new batch of Turkish troops has arrived in Qatar for training exercises with local forces as part of an Ankara-Doha deal according to Turkey s state-run media.

The sixth military group including 28 artillerymen in total arrived in Doha on Wednesday state-run Anadolu agency reported.

This deployment is in line with the 2015 deal between Ankara and Doha on strengthening military cooperation and approved by Turkish Parliament on June 7 just two days following the diplomatic row between Qatar and several Gulf countries.

The Turkish-Qatari joint drills started in Qatar on June 19 when the first group of Turkish troops arrived at the military base. Ankara had been backing Qatar as "a longtime ally " said Anadolu reports.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is planning to visit Saudi Arabia Kuwait and Qatar on July 23-24 in order to help the settlement of diplomatic crisis with Qatar.

--IANS
soni/vt