Turkish troops have arrived in Qatar in a show of support for the Gulf country after Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations cut ties and imposed measures to isolate it, AFP news agency reported.
Qatar's state TV on Tuesday carried images of Turkish troops in Qatar's capital, Doha. The state TV broadcast did not specify how many Turkish troops had arrived and Turkish officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Qatari media reported that the Turkish troops had arrived on Sunday for joint military exercises. Days after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar, Turkey's parliament approved the deployment of troops to a Turkish military base there.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and other countries have cut ties with Qatar over accusations the emirate supports extremism. Doha denies the accusations and says measures imposed on Qatar by its Gulf neighbours amount to a "blockade". Turkey is one of Qatar's strongest allies. It has also increased food supplies to Qatar after the emirate's land border was closed.
