Qatar denies US partnership review report as 'categorically false'

Qatar on Thursday firmly rejected a report claiming it was reassessing its security partnership with the United States, describing the allegation as "categorically false".

In a statement carried by the International Media Office, Doha dismissed the Axios report that cited an unnamed source "with knowledge", calling it a "clear and failed attempt to drive a wedge between Qatar and the US by those who benefit from chaos in the region and oppose peace".

"The Qatar-US security and defence partnership is stronger than ever and continues to grow. Our two countries have supported each other for many years, and we will continue working together to promote global peace and stability," the office said.

The denial came as Qatar continues to grapple with the aftermath of Israel's deadly airstrike on Doha earlier this week. On Tuesday, Israeli warplanes targeted a residential building in the Qatari capital that housed members of Hamas's political bureau, killing six people.

Among the dead was Corporal Bader Al-Humaidi Al-Dosari of Qatar’s Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), alongside five Hamas members: Humam Al-Hayya, son of senior negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya; office director Jihad Labad; and bodyguards Ahmad Mamlouk, Abdallah Abdelwahd, and Mumen Hassoun.

On Thursday, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani joined mourners at the Imam Abdul Wahhab Mosque in Doha for the funeral prayers. Senior Qatari officials including Interior Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani were also in attendance, before the bodies were laid to rest at Mesaimeer Cemetery.

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani described the attack as "treachery" and accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of "violating international law and starving the people of Gaza while trying to lecture others on legality". He warned that Doha "reserves the right to respond to the Israeli attack" and said the region was moving toward a collective response.

Netanyahu defended the strike, threatening that any country "harbouring terrorists" would face further attacks unless Hamas leaders were expelled or prosecuted. Qatar hit back, stressing that its hosting of Hamas officials was carried out at the request of both the US and Israel to facilitate mediation efforts.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called Netanyahu’s remarks "a pathetic attempt to justify a crime condemned worldwide", adding that his comparison of Hamas to Al-Qaeda was "another desperate distortion to cover up his own violations of international law".

Doha has since launched legal action over the strike. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Al-Khulaifi confirmed that a special legal team has filed complaints with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the president of the UN Security Council, condemning the attack as a "flagrant violation of international law" and warning of "serious regional consequences".

The attack has also rattled ties between Israel and Washington. The Wall Street Journal reported that US President Donald Trump had expressed anger during a "tense" phone call with Netanyahu, accusing him of jeopardising ceasefire talks in Gaza and blindsiding Washington by failing to provide advance notice of the operation.