U.A.E. SAYS QATARI JETS INTERCEPTED CIVILIAN FLIGHTS

The United Arab Emirates on Monday claimed that Qatari fighter jets intercepted two of its commercial airliners in international airspace on the way to Bahrain, allegations denied by Qatar.

The UAE’s state-run WAM news agency quoted Saif alSuwaidi, the director-general of the country’s General Civil Aviation Authority, as saying the intercepts happened at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. He said Bahraini radar, as well as crew and passengers on board, saw the military aircraft, “which constituted a clear and explicit threat to the lives of innocent civilians.”

WAM did not identify the aircraft involved, nor did it elaborate on details of the purported encounters. The GCAA did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry called the UAE’s allegations a “totally false claim” in a statement Monday night.