A history of open, silent clashes
Qatar has been involved in several open and silent conflicts with its neighbours for decades.
1986: Qatari helicopters seize 29 workers employed by a Dutch firm to build a coastguard station for Bahrain, triggering a dispute that almost degenerates into armed conflict. Then Saudi King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz steps in to contain the situation.
1991: Qatar takes the case of a border dispute with Bahrain to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The case is reviewed in 2000 and the verdict is pronounced in 2001. It is the longest case of its kind in the history of ICJ.
1992: Armed clash between Qatar and Saudi Arabia related to demarcation of borders. 3 people killed.
1996: Qatar accuses Saudi Arabia of supporting tribesmen who staged a coup against the new Emir, Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani. Shaikh Hamad in June deposes his father who is abroad on official visits to become the new ruler of the state.
1996: Qatar’s Emir boycotts the concluding session of the GCC summit and leaves Omani capital, Muscat, after GCC countries choose Saudi Arabia’s candidate, Jameel Al Hujailan, as GCC Secretary General over Qatar’s candidate, Abdul Rahman Al Attiya.
2002: Saudi Arabia pulls out its ambassador in Doha after Qatar’s Al Jazeera broadcasts a programme that includes controversial remarks and attacks on the first Saudi king, Abdul Aziz Al Saud. 2008: Saudi Arabia and Qatar reach an agreement on the demarcation of their borders. 2013: The Riyadh Agreement is signed. According to the documents shown by CNN, the handwritten agreement lays out commitments to avoid any interference in the internal affairs of other Gulf nations, including barring financial or political support to “deviant” groups, which is used to describe anti-government activist groups. The agreement specifically mentions not supporting the Muslim Brotherhood as well as not backing opposition groups in Yemen that could threaten neighbouring countries. The countries also vowed not to support antagonistic media.
March 2014: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE recall their ambassadors from Doha, accusing Qatar of failing to comply with the GCC principles of not interfering, directly or indirectly, in the domestic affairs of other countries and of not supporting anyone or any group threatening the security and stability of the GCC through any means.
November 2014: Qatar signs an extension to the Riyadh Agreement. The documents obtained by CNN show that it “specifically mentions the signatories’ commitment to support Egypt’s stability, including preventing Al Jazeera from being used as a platform for groups or figures challenging the Egyptian government.”
June 5, 2017: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE sever diplomatic and trade relations with Qatar following its failure to honour its pledges in the Riyadh Agreement.
June 17, 2017: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt issue a terror list of 59 individuals and 12 entities with links to Qatar.
July 10, 2017: CNN reveals details from the Riyadh Agreement that explain the reasons the GCC is taking a determined stance against Qatar.