US-Qatar Will Complete Defense Cooperation Agreement After Israel's Attack On Doha

US Foreign Minister Marco Rubio/PHOTO via Instagram @secrubio

JAKARTA - Qatar and the United States are close to finalizing a broader defense cooperation agreement following Israel's attacks on Hamas political leaders in Doha.

The attack on Doha was very sensitive as Qatar was a close ally of the US and the location of the largest US military base in the Middle East.

Qatar has also hosted and mediated ceasefire negotiations with Egypt since the Gaza war began nearly two years ago.

Rubio, who was on his way to Doha from Tel Aviv, urged Qatar to continue his role as mediator between Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza war, saying "a very short time in which an agreement could be reached."

"If there is a country in the world that can help mediate it, Qatar is the country. They are the ones who can do it," said US Foreign Minister Marco Rubio while leaving Tel Aviv for Doha.

"We have a close partnership with Qatar. In fact, we have an improved defense cooperation agreement, which we have worked on, and is almost complete," Rubio said, without elaborating.

Qatar called the Israeli attack "cut and dangerous," but said it would not hinder its role as a mediator, along with Egypt and the United States.

During his visit in May, Trump had assured Qatar Washington would protect him if the country was attacked.

Trump said Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had not been informed of Israel's attack.

Netanyahu threatened to attack Hamas leaders "wherever they are" in a press conference with Rubio on Monday, when Arab and Islamic leaders held a summit to support Qatar after the Israeli attack.

Trump said he was unhappy with the Israeli attack, which was considered a unilateral action that did not advance US or Israeli interests.

Trump is trying to convince Qatar such attacks will not happen again in a meeting with Qatar's prime minister in New York on Friday.