Reuters: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed their ties with Qatar on Monday, accusing it of supporting terrorism, in an unprecedented breach between the most powerful members of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The coordinated move dramatically escalates a dispute over Qatar’s support of the Muslim Brotherhood, the world’s oldest Islamist movement, and adds accusations that Doha even backs the agenda of regional arch-rival Iran.

The three Gulf states announced the closure of transport ties with Qatar and gave Qatari visitors and residents two weeks to leave their countries. Qatar was also expelled from a Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen.

These were more severe measures than during a previous eight-month rift in 2014, when Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE withdrew their ambassadors from Doha. 

At that time, travel links were maintained and Qataris were not expelled.

A split between Doha and its closest allies can have repercussions around the Middle East where Gulf states have used their financial and political power to influence events in Libya, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

Qatar is also due to host the World Cup in 2022.

In a statement on state news agency SPA, oil giant Saudi Arabia accused Qatar of backing militant groups and spreading their violent ideology, in an apparent reference to Qatar’s influential state-owned satellite channel al Jazeera.

“(Qatar) embraces multiple terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at disturbing stability in the region, including the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIS (Islamic State) and al-Qaeda, and promotes the message and schemes of these groups through their media constantly,” SPA said.

The statement went on to accuse Qatar of supporting what it described as Iranian-backed militants in its restive and largely Shi’ite Muslim-populated Eastern region of Qatif and in Bahrain.

There was no immediate Qatari reaction to the announcements, and Qatari officials could not be reached for comment, but it has denied supporting terrorism or Iran in the past.

Egypt, the Arab world’s most populous nation, said on its state news agency that Qatar’s policy “threatens Arab national security and sows the seeds of strife and division within Arab societies according to a deliberate plan aimed at the unity and interests of the Arab nation.”

Qatar regrets decision by Saudi Arabia, UAE & Bahrain to sever relations

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar yesterday expressed its deep regret at the decision of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to close their borders and airspace and cut off diplomatic relations over baseless allegations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed: “These measures are unjustified and are based on claims and allegations that have no basis in fact. The State of Qatar has been the target of a systematic incitement campaign that promoted outright lies, which indicates that there was a prior intent to harm the State.” 

Qatar is an active member of the GCC and adheres to its charter, respects the sovereignty of other countries, does not interfere in its internal affairs and carries out its duties in the fight against terrorism and extremism, the ministry stated.

The statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry went on to assert that it was clear that the media campaign against Qatar had failed to convince public opinion in the region and in the Gulf countries in particular, which explains the continued escalation.

The fabrication of reasons for taking action against a sister country in the GCC is clear evidence that there is no legitimate justification for these measures, which were taken in coordination with Egypt, and the goal is clear: enforcing guardianship over the State, which is completely unacceptable. This is in itself a violation of its sovereignty as a State.

The statement pointed out that the allegations contained in the statements of severing the relations issued by the three countries represent an undisclosed attempt to confirm the advance planning of media campaigns, which included many fabrications.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that these measures taken against the State of Qatar would not affect the normal course of life of the citizens and residents of the State and that the Qatari Government would take all necessary measures to ensure this and to thwart attempts to influence and harm Qatari society and the country’s economy.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry also said, at this critical stage, these three countries have not found a more important and crucial challenge for their people than exposing the State of Qatar and trying to harm it.