The US State Department said Wednesday its top counterterrorism official is headed to Qatar to thank Doha for efforts against terrorism and discuss additional steps.
Nathan Sales will voice Washington’s gratitude to Qatar "for its commitment to combating global terrorism and its dedication to a robust partnership with the United States on counterterrorism and security," the agency said.
Sales will meet Qatari Attorney General Ali Bin Fetas al-Marri and other senior officials "to discuss Qatar’s role in combating the financing of terrorism, including implementation of its new Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism legislation, as well as Qatar’s active participation in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS," the department said.
Qatar is one of the United States’ closest allies in the region. Al-Udeid Air Base is home to the Combined Air Operation Center, which hosts 18 nations and is responsible for all Coalition air operations in the Middle East and Central Asia.
More than 8,000 American military personnel are housed at Al-Udeid Air Base, and another 200,000 transit the base annually.
