Pakistan, Oct. 11 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States has authorized Qatar to build an air force facility at Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho, which will host Qatari F-15 fighter jets and pilots, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday.

The decision follows President Donald Trump's executive order pledging to defend Qatar against attacks after Israeli air strikes reportedly targeted Hamas leaders in Doha. "We're signing a letter of acceptance to build a 'Qatari Emiri Air Force facility' at the Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho," Hegseth said at the Pentagon, flanked by Qatari Defense Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.

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He added that the facil...