In the latest escalation in the Egypt-Qatar rift, Qatar Airways announced it will be terminating its operations in Egypt, and ending all contracts for Egyptian employees, according to Qatar Airways workers. Prior to Qatar Airways ending its operation in Egypt, the four countries had taken similar action, with the main airlines in the respective countries – including airline powerhouses Egypt Air, Gulf Air, Air Arabia, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Etihad Airlines, and Royal Air Maroc – had suspended flights to and from Qatar as part of a boycott. The countries had also criticized Qatar for its ties to Iran, a country similarly accused of sponsoring terrorism in the region. Despite animosity shared between Iran and Arab countries and Qatar’s membership of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Qatar often refrains from criticizing Iran. Qatar and Iran are both members of OPEC, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Source: Egypt Independent November 28, 2017 14:03 UTC