Turkish military team in Qatar for troop deployment

By Baris Gundogan

ANKARA (AA) – A three-person military team has been sent to Qatar Monday to explore and coordinate the deployment of forces in the country, the Turkish military said on Tuesday.

The domestic legal process regarding the deployment of Turkish troops in Qatar has been completed, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement.

According to the statement, reciprocal military visits have been ongoing since October 2015.

Last week, Turkey’s parliament ratified two deals on deploying troops in Qatar and training the tiny Gulf nation's gendarmerie forces after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and Yemen cut ties with Doha.

A deal aimed at improving Qatar's army and boosting military cooperation with Turkey was also signed in Doha in April 2016.