Ahram: Qatar boosting strategic ties with Iran thus threatening the security of Arab states

Ahram Online, 10 Jun 2017- Earlier this week, Egypt severed diplomatic ties with Qatar, imposing a series of sanctions on the small Gulf state in coordination with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain.
The four countries accuse Qatar of supporting terrorist organisations, interfering in Arab states’ internal affairs, and boosting strategic ties with Iran, challenging a general policy of other Gulf countries towards Tehran and thus threatening the national security of Arab states.
Sources in Cairo say Egypt has accumulated evidence showing Qatar’s meddling in many local and regional issues.
Other accusations include promoting extremist ideas and backing terrorism in Sinai, as well as meddling in Cairo’s internal affairs by sponsoring a plot to sow strife and division.
A high-profile military expert said Qatar has been backing and financing security threats to Egypt in three regions: Gaza, Libya and Sudan.
The source says Cairo has strong evidence that Qatar has financed militant organisations working against Egypt in Libya.
With Qatar insisting on maintaining good ties with Iran, the security threat to the Gulf countries has spiked in conflict areas in Syria, Iraq and with Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
This was shown in April during the process to release Qataris kidnapped in Iraq, who included members of the royal family, the reciprocal evacuation deal of Syrian civilians from four besieged towns, Al-Foua and Kefraya, Zabadani and Madaya, which followed discussions with Iran’s’ Revolutionary Guard officials, and the earlier abduction of Lebanese policemen in Arsal that ended with Qatari mediation with Daesh kidnappers.
What’s more, the UAE uncovered clandestine ties between Houthis and Doha, which secretly received a Houthi delegation to talk about moves in Yemen in favour of Tehran.