UK deploys a squadron of Typhoon fighter jets to Qatar at Doha's request, amid regional tensions

The UK’s Joint No. 12 Squadron with Qatar has deployed Typhoon fighter jets to the Gulf region for defensive purposes following a request from the Qatari government, the British Ministry of Defence confirmed on Thursday, amid rising tensions in the region.

The agreement is part of the UK-Qatar Defence Assurance Agreement, signed by the two countries.

According to the Ministry of Defence’s statement, the No. 12 Squadron regularly deploys to Qatar to conduct joint training exercises, as well as an exchange of knowledge to enhance national and regional security.

"Qatar and the UK are close partners with historic defence ties going back decades. This partnership bolsters the national security of both our nations and supports stability in the Gulf region," Defence Secretary John Heeley said.

The jets' deployment "is a further demonstration of their crucial role in reinforcing global security", Heeley added.

The ministry also stressed the 12 Squadron’s deployment as "a testament to the UK’s commitment to our partners and to the wider stability of the region".

The Royal Air Force’s Number 12 Squadron, active since the early 1910s, was rebranded in 2018 as the Qatari Emir Air Force - the UK’s first Joint Squadron since World War II. In the same year, it began integrating Qatari air and ground crews for training and support purposes, as part of the Qatari purchase of 24 Typhoons.

The UK and Qatar have cooperated in defence extensively over the years. The country’s Al Udeid Base has stationed UK forces several times in recent years.

In 2014, the two signed a defence cooperation agreement.

Although the statement refrained from giving a specific reason for the deployment, recent years have been marked by turbulence in the Middle East caused by Israel’s deadly war in Gaza and its spillover into Lebanon, Syria, and the Red Sea. A conflict between Israel and Iran, in parallel with the war in Gaza, also broke out and escalated into a 12-day war, which also involved US attacks. Iran had struck Qatar’s Al Udeid Base in retaliation, as American troops are stationed there.

In recent weeks, fears of an escalation have risen again in light of the nationwide Iranian protests, which began in late December. The US has threatened to attack Tehran in response to such, and said it was "monitoring" developments closely, with Iran pledging to treat any attack as "all-out war against us".