Arab nations cut off Qatar for terror aid

FOUR ARAB countries cut diplomatic ties Monday with Qatar, closing borders and suspending air and sea travel to the gas-rich nation over what they say is its support of terrorist groups.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates all recalled their diplomats, accusing Qatar of destabilizing the region through its relationship with Iran and its support of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Saudi Arabia accused its neighbor of supporting “terrorist groups aiming to destabilize the region.”

Bahrain, meanwhile, blamed Qatar’s “media incitement, support for armed terrorist activities and funding linked to Iranian groups to carry out sabotage and spreading chaos in Bahrain” for its decision.

Qatari officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The peninsular Persian Gulf nation is scheduled to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

Qatar alleged last month that hackers took over its state-run news agency site and published fake comments from its ruling emir about Iran and Israel.

Meanwhile, Qatari Air Force military jets hovered above the country. The U.S. has a military base in Doha, Qatar.

“It may take time, but it WILL be resolved,” SBS News in Australia reported U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis as saying. Mattis is in Australia for a conference on terrorism.

Saudi Arabia and Egyptian officials discussed on Sunday ways to team up against terrorism amid efforts to resolve differences between their two countries on the Syrian and Yemeni conflicts.

Each later separately announced its decision on Qatar, but did not say whether cutting ties was part of their discussion.