Qatar raises stake in Syrian conflict with talk of military intervention

Ministerie van Buitenlands

Qatar foreign minister Dr. Khalid Al Attiyah

After years of calling for the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Qatar has escalated its rhetoric this week, with a senior official saying Doha would consider using military force to help the Syrian people.

Qatar Foreign Minister Dr. Khalid Al Attiyah made his remarks yesterday in an interview with CNN Arabic, during which he reiterated Qatar preference for a political solution to the Syrian civil war.

However, he went further by saying:

Anything that protects the Syrian people and Syria from partition, we will not spare any effort to carry it out with our Saudi and Turkish brothers, no matter what this is, Al Attiyah said, according to a text of his remarks published in Arabic by Qatars state news agency.

If a military intervention will protect the Syrian people from the brutality of the regime, we will do it, he added.

Syria Civil Defense

Aftermath of Russian airstrike in Syria

While an analyst said its unlikely Qatar would actually send its troops into Syria, the ministers remarks suggest that that the government may increase its support for rebels inside of Syria in response to Russias recent bombing campaign.

Earlier this month, Qatar and its western allies accused Russia of targeting Assads opposition and called on the nation to end its aggression against Syrian rebels and civilians.

In response to Al Attiyahs remarks, supporters of the Syrian government quickly ratcheted up their own rhetoric, warning of grave consequences if Qatar deepened its involvement in the conflict. On Twitter, pro-Syrian Lebanese politician Wiam Wahhab wrote:

Source: http://dohanews.co/qatar-raises-stake-in-syrian-conflict-with-talk-of-military-intervention/